I was recently traveling through the area where Monroe, Wilcox, and Clarke, counties join. This is a very remote area West of the Alabama River. 31.911855, -87.611717
I was able to see this beautiful old church standing beside the road. I was excited to see that it was listed as one of the Black Belt Treasures. Above I shared the tag that you can call the number and get the information on it from.
Upon closer examination I found it to be an old Methodist Church. As with so many of the old churches I see in my travels it had the trademark single doors one on each side. I mention it often when I comment on these old churches. This appears to be a very common way to date many of these old churches as mid to late 1800’s builds. Although not all inclusive it seems to be a common thread of many. It was not a particular of any one denomination.
On more than one occasion I have been told that the single doors one on each side were for a reason. The men and older boys would enter and sit on the right-hand side of the church through the right door. The women girls and small children would enter through the left door, and they would sit on the left side of the church. Walking through the grounds of this beautiful old church one could only wonder at the numbers of families that this church had served in the years it was in active service.
Standing on the property it is like one can feel a sense of unity, joy and peace that it has brought to hundreds, if not thousands over the century that it has stood.
Liberty Methodist Church is located in Southwestern Wilcox County, Alabama. It is located on County Road 1 about three miles South of the community of Sunny South. You see it on your right as you head South towards Lower Peachtree.
Liberty Methodist was built in the mid 1800’s and was active through the mid 1900’s. At the time of this update, I have not heard a date that it closed for regular services. The church is now under private ownership.
There is now an annual homecoming event held each year the first Sunday in October. The church stands adjoining to a well-kept cemetery that contains the graves of many of the early settlers of the area around where it stands.
This is yet one more reminder of a great beautiful old church that was in all probability the glue that held a community together until the numbers of people in the community dwindled until there was not enough left to keep the doors open.