Plains Methodist was organized as Tabernacle Methodist in 1848 at a location about three miles north of Plains.  In 1888, a new wooden church with a steeple was built in the town of Plains.  That building was replaced by the current one in 1910.  The church is an architectural masterpiece that you would not expect to see in a small South Georgia farming community.

The town of Plains is well known as the home of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.  They were married in this church on July 7, 1947 – a few weeks after Jimmy graduated from the Naval Academy.  Their wedding photo is below.  Jimmy and Rosalynn were married for 77 years, the longest marriage of any of our US presidents. Rosalynn was raised in the Methodist church while Jimmy was raised in the Baptist Church not far away.

Plains was founded in 1827 after federal authorities forced out Creek Indians under the Treaty of Washington.  It was located one mile north of its present site. Originally three small settlements existed nearby – Plains of Dura, Magnolia Springs, and Lebanon. As railway access expanded into the region in 1884, these settlements converged to the new railway location as a single entity. As businesses rapidly developed, local businessmen successfully petitioned the State Legislature to shorten Plains of Dura to just plain Plains, and it was subsequently incorporated as such in 1896.

Today Plains is a quiet farming community with a population of less than 600 and well worth a visit. The Plains High School, built in 1921 and attended by Jimmy and Rosalynn is now the Jimmy Carter National Park. Just a few miles to the south of Plains is the boyhood home of Jimmy Carter.   The farm has been perfectly preserved as it was before electricity was installed in 1938. 

HRC has produced a PBS video about President Carter and his devotion to teaching Sunday School at the nearby Maranatha church for 40 years.  That episode can be accessed HERE.