Bethlehem Primitive Baptist (Brooks County, Ga.)

Bethlehem Primitive Baptist is a magnificent example of a Wiregrass Primitive Baptist Church, named after the native grass Aristida Stricta (wiregrass) so prevalent in the south Georgia ecosystem. Wiregrass Primitives were prolific in this part of Georgia in the early 1800's and continue to the present day. They are also known as Hardshell Baptists, whose conservative approach theology and austere lifestyle has thereby earned the nickname. Bethlehem was originally located about one mile distant in a log meetinghouse that was on the property of John Dykes. It had a slave gallery that was purported to be the only known slave gallery in any of the Wiregrass churches, perhaps because very few slaves were part of the Wiregrass congregations. The church decided in February of 1861 to look for a new location and build a new church, which still stands today.