Organized in 1810 and constructed in 1812, Longstreet Methodist Church is the oldest church building in Bleckley County—and it is still in use today. The church was founded by Charles Walker, son of George Walker, a veteran of the American Revolution. George Walker is believed to have arrived in this section of Georgia around 1806, shortly after the land was opened to white settlement. Two years earlier, this territory had been ceded by the Creek Indians to the Federal Government, and, in recognition of his military service, George was offered the opportunity to settle in the newly opened lands.

A Federal Stage and Post Road was soon established along a preexisting Native American trail that connected Milledgeville (then the state capital) and Hartford. George and his five sons established plantations along a 3.5-mile stretch of this road, which came to be known as Long Street, eventually combined into Longstreet.

In 1809, a Methodist circuit was established in the area, and circuit-riding preachers began conducting services in members’ homes until permanent churches could be built. Around 1810, a congregation was formally organized at Longstreet, and Charles Walker donated land for the church, which was completed in 1812. He gave two acres—one on the west side of the Federal Road to be used for a church and burial ground, and another acre on the opposite side for a school, which came to be known as Longstreet Academy.

The current church building—constructed in 1812—is largely original, with only minimal architectural changes over time. One window has been closed off, but otherwise, the structure retains its early character. However, the interior layout has been altered. Originally, the sanctuary included a divider that separated men and women, who entered through separate front doors. That divider has since been removed, and the pulpit was relocated to the opposite wall, shifting the pews’ orientation as well. The hand-cut doors remain original, complete with forged hardware crafted on one of the surrounding plantations. The pews are mostly original, and the handcrafted pulpit, held together with wooden pegs, is a beautiful example of early frontier craftsmanship.

In the years following the Civil War, the surrounding community changed drastically. Many of the Walker family plantations collapsed, with homes lost to fire or gradually demolished as families moved away. In the early 1900s, a new school opened in nearby Evergreen, and Longstreet Academy was permanently closed. In 1921, the land where the school once stood was sold, and the proceeds were used to purchase a new piano for the church.

Though membership waned at times, the congregation always managed to regroup after periods of inactivity. Sunday School rooms were added in 1955, restrooms in 1975, and central heating and air conditioning were installed in 1995. Today, the church still holds regular services and continues to be a place of worship and community gathering.

Behind the church lies a historic cemetery, where members of the Walker family, as well as other members of the Longstreet Methodist congregation, are buried. You can explore more about these burials in the photo gallery below.