![]() ![]() The Pinebloom mansion is protected under historic preservation ordinances and is a contributing structure to the Druid Hills Historic District, however, the church building is considered non-contributing. Jackson Hill Baptist Church Choir circa 1925, photo courtesy of the Georgia Archives The renovation and maintenance of the building proved to be too costly, and by 2003 The Christian Index moved back into the Baptist Center on Flowers Road. Once acquired by The Christian Index, refurbishing and renovations began, but they did not move into the property until the beginning of 2001. Jackson Hill Baptist’s dwindling congregation met on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights in the solarium of the mansion. The church sanctuary was used by the Moreland Avenue Baptist Church at the time the property was transferred. In 1997, the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention voted to accept the property as a gift to provide office space for The Christian Index at a location separate from the Baptist Center on Flowers Road. Pinebloom estate, photo courtesy of The Christian Index The Baptist Hour radio show was broadcast from the third-floor attic space. The famous evangelist Billy Sunday preached the largest cottage revival of his career in the home. In 1946, Preston Arkwright died, and by 1950, the family sold the property to the Southern Baptist Convention. Arkwright was an investor in the Druid Hills Corporation, lawyer and partner at what is now the Troutman Sanders law firm, second president of Georgia Power, former owner of the Atlanta Crackers minor league baseball team, and an early proponent of an underground city transit system.Īrkwright’s wife named the estate Pinebloom after her family home in Baker County. This prestigious Tudor-Revival mansion was built in 1914 by architect Walter T. Many even predate some of the oldest homes in Buckhead. Along South Ponce de Leon these magnificent church-mansions are not uncommon. But that’s what drives us to fix them and restore them because we love them and we want to be able to tell their stories,” said Welch.Established in 1895, Jackson Hill Baptist Church moved to the Pinebloom estate in the Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta in 1957. “It always breaks my heart to see a building that hasn’t been loved and left abandoned. I love seeing them brought back to being beautiful again, and usable where other people can enjoy them,” said Neely. “I do it because I love historical projects. Electrician Rick Neely calls it a combination of blood, sweat and tears, mixed with love. “Attendees to church would’ve come in, they would’ve opened the Bible box, chosen their Bible and then come and have a seat in one of the pews,” said Welch.īringing an old church back to life isn’t easy. The church’s original Bible box was found intact. “All of this glass is clear, which is interesting because the German immigrants who built this building were poor so they couldn’t have afforded stained glass,” said Welch. Finely detailed windows were carved by those who called the church home. ![]() “That way we have an opportunity to give it back to the community in a way they can use it and enjoy it, ” said Welch.Īnd learn a little church history, its story told in original wood floors and trim. Welch transformed the inside into what will be an Airbnb, complete with kitchen, sofas replacing the pews and the old choir loft turned into a dining area. “I just knew somebody needed to love it, ” said Welch. ![]() The building sat abandoned for decades with peeling paint, cracks and water leaks. The town’s Presbyterian church was her latest challenge. The window frames were all rotting and coming apart,” said historic preservationist Jennifer Welch. “The wood was all rotting in some places off the wall. The 120-year-old buildings has been brought back to life, and not a minute too soon. BARTLETT, Texas - You can almost hear Sunday morning music echoing from an old church in Bartlett, Texas.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |