Bethel Methodist (Charlton County, Ga.)

Bethel Methodist is one of those small "three window" simple churches that rise up in the piney woods and sandy soil of the south Georgia wiregrass country. Thankfully the church is still active but time has taken its toll in several areas. The building is beginning to sag due to deterioration of the mortar between the bricks of the supporting columns. The brick chimney has been removed because it was leaning and causing damage to the structure. A patch in the roofing material can be seen in the area the chimney once occupied. There is a hole where the wood heater flu passed through the left wall. Originally known as Alligator Creek Church, a pastor years ago felt Alligator was an inappropriate name for a church and changed the name to Bethel. A brief description from the History of the South Georgia Conference United Methodist Church reads, "West of Folkston on the west side of post road from US 23 to old Homeland Road is located this church called Bethel." (The road referenced as post road is Spanish Creek Road whose name changes to Sardis Road at some point) "It is on the site of Alligator Creek Church. It was organized before 1872 in a log building. In 1872 the present building was built; the lumber, from a sawmill at Kings Ferry, Fla., was brought up the St. Marys River to Traders Hill and hauled to the present site by ox team. The sills were put together with wooden pegs. It is still in use." (Now meetings are held monthly) "For a period of time it served as the school during the week. Bethel Cemetery is adjacent to the church. Among the circuits to which it belonged is Traders Hill and Folkston. It has been in the Brunswick District. 1982 membership: 13, members entering the ministry: Bailey Gay."