Antioch Baptist Church a favorite Blue Highway find
Blue Highways by Tee Gentry
The good thing about traveling back roads is you never know what you’ll discover. Many times, over the years, I’ve passed something interesting, and neglected to stop, vowing to check it out later. Not this time. I knew when I saw the Antioch Baptist Church in Crawfordville, Georgia I had to see more – immediately.
Located in Taliaferro County, about 90 miles east of Atlanta, Antioch is one of my favorite back road finds.
It’s a very old white church, faded by years of neglect. Still, somehow, it stands proud on the side of a rural highway. Built in 1886, it’s predictably weathered by time. Some of the windows are broken and the white paint id now patchy.
Inside, the pews are in decent shape, and you can’t help but imagine a church full of worshippers singing “Amazing Grace.” The pulpit is still there and a table in front that holds offering plates, full of money.
There are notes from people who have fallen on hard times who have taken a few dollars, promising to pay it back. Just as many, it seems, have dropped silent and unacknowledged donations for those in need.
An old piano is in the corner of the chancel, waiting to be played again, despite its scattered broken keys. Two ragged chairs nearby and on the pulpit a bible remains open.
The curtains wave back and forth as a gust of wind comes through the closest broken window. It’s empty and no one is around, but it’s peaceful, too.
Outside, is a small cemetery. The oldest grave dates back to 1898.
You just can’t help thinking about dinner on the grounds on a Sunday afternoon with children running and playing and the parishioners enjoying southern cooking and the company of friends. All that life and now, it sits abandoned.
Kinda sad, but in a beautiful sort of way.
As for myself, I dropped a ten dollar bill in the offering plate and said thank you to no one and all that came before as I left.
