Independence Methodist sits in the little town of Tignall, once known as Independence Campground. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, camp meetings were held here—large, non-denominational gatherings that grew out of the Second Great Awakening. People would travel for miles to hear multiple ministers preach, to share fellowship, and to experience a sense of community that shaped religious life in Georgia.

At its beginning, Independence Church was intended for all denominations. Some believe the name came from this inclusive spirit, while others suggest it honored the nation’s victory in the Revolutionary War. In the 1830s, a dispute arose and the Methodists, represented in court by local attorney Robert Toombs, won legal claim to the church. It has remained Methodist ever since.

In 1840, Thomas L. Wootten deeded land for the sanctuary. After the Civil War, the original building was sold to the African American community, who moved it into Tignall. That congregation became Black Rock AME Church, which still thrives today. A new Methodist sanctuary was erected across the road in 1871 and dedicated by Bishop George F. Pierce. By 1879, Sunday school celebrations here were drawing nearly 1,000 people.

Over time, Independence has been remodeled, but its heritage endures. Once divided with separate doors and aisles for men and women, the sanctuary was updated in the 1950s with a single entrance and pews. Gas heaters replaced wood stoves in 1949, and green shutters restored in 1953 keep the church’s historic charm.

More than two centuries after its founding, Independence Methodist continues to serve as a spiritual home for Tignall. Its story weaves together camp meeting revivalism, post-war resilience, and generations of faithful stewardship—making it one of Georgia’s remarkable rural treasures.