Every church we feature at HRCGA is special in its own way. All are historic, and many are quite old. Some are visually striking, others architecturally unique, and many have been the backdrop for significant events in local, state, or national history. Others hold importance for their role in denominational or social history, or for their distinctive building materials, ornamentation, or setting.

Then there are the rare few that are all of these things and more. Penfield Baptist is one of those. Its striking Greek Revival building sits with quiet dignity on the hill where it was first built nearly 170 years ago, virtually unchanged from the day it was completed by David Demorest in 1845–46. Originally constructed to serve as Mercer University’s chapel, the building reflects the prominence Mercer once held as one of Georgia’s leading centers of learning and a seat of the Baptist movement. Mercer was founded in Penfield in 1833 as a manual labor school and prospered until the Civil War and the town’s gradual decline led the Georgia Baptist Convention to move the university to Macon in 1871.

Penfield Baptist’s congregation was organized in 1839 after a tornado destroyed Shiloh Baptist. Their first church, a wooden structure, stood near the site where Mercer Chapel was later built. When the university relocated to Macon, it gifted the chapel to Penfield Baptist, which moved in immediately and flourished there well into the 20th century.

By the 1970s, the congregation could no longer afford the upkeep, and the chapel was returned to Mercer. The building fell into jeopardy until a growing appreciation for historic preservation in the late 20th century spurred its restoration. Fully restored to its original condition, the chapel was returned to Penfield Baptist, where it remains in use today.

Penfield Baptist stands as a rare example of a historic rural church preserved through cooperation, care, and a shared commitment to heritage—ensuring its beauty and history will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Click THE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT to see church minutes from 1839 – 1871, as transcribed by Virginia Bolton, HRC Research Director