How We Have Grown

Andersonville Baptist Church (ABC) was founded on September 6, 1839 with 12 members. Baptisms in the olden days were held in the nearby Tugaloo River. Many of the pastors and members of ABC were from Georgia and had to cross the Tugaloo River on the Andersonville Ferry to attend church services.

Due to several floods, a second church was built on property decided and recorded on July 23, 1904. Members worshipped in the second building, which was an old wooded one, until construction began on the Hartwell Dam and forced the members to move that church building. The site is now underwater.

On Sunday, April 28, 1956, the members voted to purchase three acres of land from Mr. Will Loskoski, which is our present site. The members voted to buy the brick sanctuary of the Shirley Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church, which was located about 1/2 mile down the road from the site already purchased. The brick was removed, the building was moved, and then covered with siding. The building still stand today.

On Sunday, October 14, 1956, services were held for the last time in the old church. When the old building was torn down, members were amazed to discover it had been put together with wooden pegs. Although the location of the town and church are now covered with water, the remembrance of how God blessed us there will never be forgotten.

When the membership had surpassed 200, there was a need for a larger sanctuary. A ground breaking was held on February 10, 1972, and the new building was completed in July. The first service was held on August 5, 1972. This is the fourth sanctuary in Andersonville's history and is still used for worship today.

Due to a continued growth in Sunday School, on March 5, 1987, there was another ground breaking for an addition to the back of the present sanctuary consisting of two stories, 30x60 feet. Located on the top floor are Sunday School classrooms and on the bottom floor, a lengthy Fellowship Hall. A dedication service, which included Sunday School and a time of fellowship, was held in the new addition on Sunday, May 3, 1987.

Between 1991-1996, the first Church Council was formed, Sunday School classrooms were added in the old church building, we held our first Missions Fair, we formed the Family Deacon Ministry, we renovated the old church offices to add two more classrooms, enlarged our church vestibule, and paved the back and front parking areas of the old building.

From 1998-1999, we conducted our ground breaking ceremony for our 8,400 square foot Multi-purpose building. This building was designed and built to facilitate our events, special celebrations, and children's activities to meet the needs of our growing congregation. Upon completion, we also paved the parking area in front of our new building.

As our church continued to grow, between 2015-2022 we remodeled our Sanctuary, we added the new Children's Church building complete with a fenced playground area, and remodeled what is now our Fellowship Hall.

We continue to grow to meet the needs of our membership, adding wheelchair ramps and covered walkways, and will continue this growth as God guides us.