How did the name Pilgrim come about? The story of Pilgrim Church in Savannah begins with a group of dedicated individuals. They sought to establish a place of worship. The name Pilgrim was carefully chosen for the Association.
In 1868, shortly after emancipation, the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Association began. Former slaves still attended white churches. However, they were segregated. They could not fully participate in the services. One Sunday morning after regular church service at Goodwill Baptist Church in Sylvania Ga, several brothers felt called by God. Bro Inman E Bryant Bro March Kent Bro Raleigh Bryant Bro J S Scott and Bro Oscar Grant wanted to preach the gospel. They approached Rev Edenfield and Rev McCall. They asked them to ordain them as preachers.
The three pastors were now ordained. They began to organize African American churches. They served Screven Bulloch and Effingham Counties. They traveled by mule and wagon. For three years they concentrated on getting black churches running. Then they formed an organization. It assisted the member churches with problems. One major issue was the education of young people. There were few high schools for them. Only a few churches had one-room elementary schools. These schools were beginning to emerge for African Americans.
Rev Inman E Bryant served as the first moderator from 1871 to 1893. During his administration a high school was established. It was named The Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Normal and Industrial Institute. It was the only high school for blacks in Effingham County from 1889 to 1936. After serving the black community for 56 years, the school closed in 1936. Effingham County built a public training school for African Americans then.
It is important to understand how these little rural churches formed. It is also important to understand the role of the schools associated with them. Most of them are gone. Sadly the Walker Grove School will soon join them. Most of the schools still with us formed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They served the rural black communities well into the 1930s and 40s. Sometimes they served later. These schools were often the only access African Americans had. This access lasted until equalization schools emerged in the 1950s. Black communities did not have full access to county-supported schools. That is until the Civil Rights Act passed in 1965.
The abandoned church and little schoolhouse must be seen in that context. It is too late for the school. But perhaps the little Pilgrim Church that served this community for so long can still be saved.
As of 2021, a savior stepped up to ensure the history at Walker Grove Church is not lost. A local woman Zandra Overstreet worked diligently through the pandemic. She had limited funds but saved this historic site. In 2022 the church opened its doors. There was an open house and picnic lunch for the first time in countless years.
Today Pilgrim Church stands as a testament. It shows the resilience and determination of a community. It faced adversity. The church also sought education and spiritual growth. Its story is a reminder of the importance of preserving these historical landmarks. They represent significant chapters in our shared past. They also provided hope.