Zion Episcopal Church (Talbotton, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Zion Episcopal Church
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West entrance and tower of Zion Episcopal Church in 1936.
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 Location in the United States
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Built | 1848-1853 |
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| Architect | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival architecture, Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000702 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1974 |
Zion Episcopal Church is a very old church that opened in 1853. It is located in Talbotton, Georgia, which is the main town in Talbot County, Georgia. This church is a special example of the English Tudor and Carpenter Gothic styles. These styles were influenced by a famous architect named Richard Upjohn.
The church was built in a rural area of Georgia. Wealthy families from coastal Georgia and South Carolina helped pay for it. They had created a rich community in the forested area near the Chattahoochee River. This land used to belong to the Muscogee people. Today, the church does not have a regular group of people who attend services. However, it is cared for by St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in nearby Hamilton, Georgia. They hold services there sometimes.
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Church History
Zion Episcopal Church shows how wealthy southern families lived and what was popular in their time. It also shows the simple style of country churches. The church was built starting in 1848 and opened in 1853. It was part of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. Reverend Richard Johnson led the church's early efforts. He wrote about his travels through the southern United States.
Rich families in Talbotton and rice farmers from South Carolina helped fund the church. This building is a perfect example of an international building style. This style became popular even in the rural areas of the southern frontier.
Church Design
Zion Episcopal Church is a great and early example of the English country Tudor revival style. It was built in the neo-gothic style. This style became very popular in the mid-1800s. The church's design was probably inspired by Richard Upjohn. He was famous for designing Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. His designs became well-known through his book, Upjohn's Rural Architecture.
The church has one main room. It is built with vertical wooden boards. It also has a tall bell tower in the middle. There is a special gallery built inside the church. The windows are tall and narrow, called lancet windows. They have wooden shutters. The church is made completely from local Heart pine wood. The nails and iron parts came from a blacksmith in Talbotton. The wood was never painted, which gives the church a dark, rustic look.
While it shares ideas with Richard Upjohn's designs, it has its own special Tudor style. It has unique wooden arches supporting the galleries. It also has decorative battlements, which look like the tops of old castles. A three-leaf clover shape, called a trefoil, is part of its pitched roof design.
The furniture inside, like the altar, communion rail, and pews, are all made from local Walnut wood. The ceiling beams are rare white cedar logs from Talbot County forests. The organ, made by Pilcher, was put in the church in 1850. It is still working today. It is the oldest and only working hand-pumped Pilcher organ in the United States.
The church stands among oak and cedar trees in the LeVert Historic District of Talbotton. This area has many large, old plantation houses with columns. The large gallery inside the church has not been changed since the Civil War. It shows how the Episcopal bishop and church members taught people who were enslaved.
Today's Church
Talbotton stayed a quiet community. The church never had more than 12 families attending regularly. In 1974, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical sites.
The church has not had regular Sunday services for over fifty years. However, the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta still takes good care of it. The church has never been updated or changed. It remains the oldest church building in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta.
Services Held
A special church service called Holy Eucharist is held at Zion Episcopal Church. It takes place in the afternoon on the second Sunday of each month.
