Carswell Grove Baptist Church and Cemetery
Why it's listed
Carswell Grove Baptist Church and Cemetery sits on Big Buckhead Road, about two miles south of Perkins in Jenkins County, Georgia. The wood-framed church, built in 1919 after an earlier building burned, has a front-gabled roof, weatherboard siding, a brick foundation and two square towers with pyramidal roofs on the front facade. Pointed-arch windows, drip-molds and a scalloped raking cornice give it Gothic Revival character. Inside, the open sanctuary keeps its historic pews and original beaded boards. The congregation organized in 1867 after separating from the white congregation of Big Buckhead Baptist Church, and land for the church was given by Judge John Wright Carswell, for whom it is named. The cemetery began around 1870 and holds several former ministers. The property was recognized for its architecture and for its role in the African American and religious life of the Carswell Grove community, where the congregation remains active.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant for its architecture, as a very intact example of an early 20th-century wood-framed rural church with two front towers and Gothic Revival details. It is also significant for African American and religious history, as the institution that served the rural Black community of Carswell Grove since the congregation formed in 1867.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95001564, listed January 22, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Big Buckhead Rd. off US 25/GA 21, Perkins |
|---|---|
| County | Jenkins County |
| Listed | January 22, 1996 |
| Reference number | 95001564 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1870-1919 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic (Gothic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church remains in religious use with an active congregation; the building is described as extremely intact with only minor changes. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 32.90210, -82.02365 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95001564.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q30622510
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.