As the First Baptist Church of Gainesville prepares to celebrate it 200th Anniversary this summer, church officials are sharing, via social media, a few stories that connect its past and its present.
“Recently,” a posting reads, “some of our Senior Adults along with Pastors Tony and Kellie took a day trip to Rabun County to see ‘The Columns’ and enjoy a wonderful lunch at The Dillard House.”
The Columns have a special connection to the church.
They were part of the church’s previous building and were the only major piece to survive a 1960 fire. The church at that time was located on the site of the new Courtyard by Mariott.
After the fire, they were salvaged, purchased, and eventually moved—by train and truck—to their current home in Clayton, where they still stand today.
“It was a meaningful day of remembering, connecting, and seeing a visible piece of our church history,” the posting continues.
The church, now located on Green Street, plans to celebrate its 200th anniversary August 15-18.
You can read more about the church and its origins and how it has evolved over the years here: History | First Baptist Church