Second Methodist Church
Also known as: Ebenezer Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 as the home of Lumpkin's 2nd Methodist Church, this two-story frame church was later given to the Ebenezer Baptist congregation. Around 1890 it was moved from a white neighborhood to a black neighborhood, and a Victorian front facade with two towers topped by pyramidal roofs was added to the original Greek Revival body. The main block has a full entablature and tall two-story windows along its sides, with a central-aisle interior plan and a rear apse. For more than half a century it served as the religious and social center of Lumpkin's black community, until a new church facility largely replaced it. The donation and relocation of a church building between congregations was fairly typical in Georgia, often following construction of a new house of worship by a white congregation. It is also the only remaining 19th century church building in Lumpkin, and its two architectural styles record both the congregation's history and the town's architectural development. A survey noted poor condition and a need for roof repairs.
Significance in brief: It is significant in religion as the mid-19th century home of the white 2nd Methodist congregation and later, for more than half a century, a center of religious and social life for Lumpkin's black community as the Ebenezer Baptist Church. It is also significant in architecture as the only remaining 19th century church building in Lumpkin, showing both Greek Revival and Victorian styles.
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 82002477, listed June 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Mulberry St., Lumpkin |
|---|---|
| County | Stewart County |
| Listed | June 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with late Victorian front facade |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in poor condition, needing roof repairs and general maintenance; no longer the congregation's main church after a new church facility superseded it, though current use is listed as church. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.04719, -84.79360 (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 82002477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.