New Corinth Baptist is another African American congregation formed shortly after the Civil War. The church you see here was built in 1870, and although improvements have been made over time, it remains largely intact and a delight to the eye.

The land for the New Corinth Church was originally purchased in 1854 by William Walter Hooks, one of the most prominent cotton planters in Sumter County. New Corinth was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, which records that “William Hooks built the church at that time (1870) using local lumber from his own nearby mill, for which Hooks Mill Road is named. The congregation comprised Hooks’ laborers and their families.”

By 1894, New Corinth reported 294 congregants, making it one of the largest Baptist churches in South Georgia. At the turn of the century, New Corinth also operated a church-sponsored school that served the local community until it was disbanded in the 1940s.

Find a Grave has documented more than 400 interments in the large cemetery, which is now partially overgrown with dense vegetation. The earliest headstone dates to the early 1900s, but it is certain that many unmarked graves contain people who were born into slavery or were first-generation freedmen. This is not unusual, as headstones were simply unaffordable for many rural African Americans in the late 19th century. Temporary markers such as fieldstones or wooden crosses were often used and disappeared over time.

We are indebted to the congregation of New Corinth for being such good stewards of this important part of Georgia’s history. They have not only preserved the essential character of the old church but also completed the substantial work required to place her on the National Register, ensuring that the history of this 150-year-old icon will be preserved for future generations.

Be sure to click and scroll through the gallery photos below for more history about New Corinth.