Photography by Gail Segars
Wrightsboro Methodist
McDuffie | Organized 1773
Set on a small hill in one of Georgia’s most historic landscapes, Wrightsboro Methodist Church traces its roots back to the Quaker settlement of Brandon, founded here in 1754 by Edmund Grey. At that time, the area was still occupied by Native Americans and not legally open to settlement. In 1768, following the Treaty of Augusta, Royal Governor James Wright granted 40,000 acres to Quakers Joseph Mattock and Jonathan Sell. A thousand acres were reserved for the town proper, which would later be incorporated as Wrightsboro in 1799.
+ Continue readingThe first meetinghouse was likely built soon after, though records suggest that at least two early structures were lost to fire. The current sanctuary, dating from 1810–1812, was funded through public subscriptions and the sale of land. The Georgia General Assembly authorized the commissioners of Wrightsboro to sell three 50-acre lots and apply up to $500 of the proceeds toward a house of worship “for all Christian denominations.” This ecumenical spirit reflects the frontier character of the community.
Records disappear until 1877, when the public church was deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Methodists argued they were the most consistent users of the building, and the community agreed to transfer ownership. For the next 125 years, Wrightsboro Methodist served as an active congregation until 1964, when it disbanded and ownership reverted to McDuffie County, which still cares for the property today.
The grounds contain burials of many early Georgia families, including ancestors of Asa G. Candler, founder of the Coca-Cola Company and mayor of Atlanta (1916–1919). About a mile east lies an early Quaker burial ground marked only with fieldstones, a quiet reminder of the settlement’s origins.
Though the town of Wrightsboro is no longer an active community, this church and its cemetery remain among the most fascinating historic sites in the state. Visitors will find themselves surrounded by echoes of Quaker settlement, Methodist perseverance, and the enduring stories of Georgia’s early pioneers.