Photography by Gail Des Jardin
New Hebron Baptist
Pike | Organized 1838
New Hebron Baptist is a visual treasure nestled in the rural countryside of Pike County, not far from the village of Concord. The church’s roots reach back to 1833, when Concord Primitive Baptist was organized in the early community of Hard Head—the original name of Concord before its charter in 1887 under Governor John B. Gordon. With the arrival of the railroad, Concord prospered as a cotton town until the devastation of the boll weevil in the early 1920s.
+ Continue readingIn the 1890s, a school was established in the Piney Woods community on land donated by the Madden family, who had received it in the 1803 land lottery. With support from the ministers of Old Hebron Baptist (founded in 1838), the school began hosting worship services for local farm families. Out of this effort, New Hebron Baptist was formally organized in 1907 with 31 charter members. By 1929, membership had grown to 99. In recognition of its architectural and cultural significance, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
For more than a century, this simple yet elegant sanctuary has been a cornerstone of community life. Its preservation owes much to Vicar Dwain Penn, who has served the congregation since 1998. Vicar Penn has not only provided spiritual leadership but also spearheaded the physical preservation of the building. His extensive historical research and documentation secured the church’s place on the National Register, ensuring its story will be remembered.
Today, New Hebron Baptist stands as both a house of worship and a remarkable example of early 20th-century rural Georgia architecture. We are indebted to Vicar Penn and the congregation for their stewardship of this little jewel.