Spirits of Times Past - First African Baptist Church on Cumberland Island, Georgia

Previously the only religious sanctuary for emancipated slaves forced to work on the isolated plantation on Georgia’s southernmost barrier island; this modest church has become center stage after it was discovered as the unannounced site of John Kennedy, Jr, and Carolyn Bassett’s wedding.

Located near the northern tip of the island (14 miles north of Sea Camp), the church stands wonderfully preserved in an area known as the Settlement. The original log-cabin style church was built in the early 1800 and renovated to its current state in 1937.

The indigenous population inhabited Cumberland Island more than 4,000 years ago. Imagine the peace and tranquility of the early inhabitants and they enjoyed the diverse ecosystem of the island and endless vegetation and food source! That was, of course, before slavery.

The Island's peaceful aboriginal inhabitants saw the invasion of Spanish and British who fought for possession of Cumberland Island. The island ultimately became a British colony until Nathanael Greene declared "squatters rights" in the mid-1700's transforming the island into one of the largest southern cotton plantations.

The First African Baptist Church was built as a religious refuge for free men and women following the wretched conditions of slavery epidemic in America and around the world during in the 17th and 18th century.

This modest one-room church, although renovated, stands as a reminder that worship and spirituality do not have to be complicated or extravagant.

Spirituality and worship have at its core the clear and simple communication with God with humility and love.

Standing at the altar of the First African Baptist Church, Nomad's Lens felt the spirits of his ancestors and the presence of God.

The doors and windows of the church were open, and the gentle breeze causes the scattered pages of the bible layered on at the pulpit to nearly blow away.

The journey to the First African Baptist Church from Greyfield Inn took nearly 3 hours by bike, so plan ahead with plenty of water and snacks. Many visitors to Cumberland Island will find the distance to the church from Sea Camp or the Inn prohibitive as visitors are not permitted to use cars on the island. However, the six-hour round trip journey to the First African Baptist Church will produce a lifetime of incredible memories.

Just do it!

Nomad's Lens