After the American Revolution, a Protestant movement known as the Second Great Awakening swept across the nation, especially in the South. It fueled the rapid growth of Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations in Georgia. One outgrowth of this revival was the camp meeting ground, a tradition that remains alive in many communities today. Campgrounds were especially popular among Methodists, and White Oak Methodist Campground in McDuffie County is one such site, established in 1832 on 158 acres along Greenway’s Creek.

White Oak Methodist traces its roots to 1796, when it was mentioned in Bishop Asbury’s journals. Early meetings were held in members’ homes, but by 1802 Asbury noted, “Preached at White Oak and rode home to dinner with Capt. Ignatious Few.” The campground thrived until the Civil War, when it was abandoned for religious purposes. Known today as the Old White Oak Campground, it lay dormant for several years. In 1873, a new White Oak Campground was established a few miles east in Columbia County. An 1872 newspaper article reported that the building committee had advertised for bids to construct an arbor, pulpit, and preacher’s tent. By August 1873, the structures were complete, and the first meeting began that September.

Research into White Oak’s history also uncovered a tragic event in September 1899. The McDuffie Weekly reported under the headline “A Sensational Tragedy” that Rev. H. B. Battle, an African American preacher, had been murdered by an unknown assailant. Days earlier, he had delivered a sermon at the campground to a mixed audience of Black and white attendees, addressing racial inequality—remarks some white listeners considered incendiary. This is the earliest known instance we have found of a campground sermon by an African American preacher to an integrated audience.

The enduring presence of campgrounds like White Oak is a testament to the dedication of the families who have preserved them for generations. More than places of worship, they are living records of Georgia’s spiritual and cultural history. Visitors are welcome to experience this legacy for themselves.