Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Fruithurst, Cleburne County

Tucked deep in the woods and hills of the Talladega National Forest is the Shoal Creek Baptist Church. Nominated by the Shoal Creek Church Preservation Society, the church is a gabled log structure on foundation piers. People settled this part of the state in the 1830s and the Shoal Creek area was incorporated in 1866 as a part of Cleburne County. In the 1880s, the Missionary Baptist Church constructed a building near the present site, but it burned and was replaced by the current building. The population of this area declined into the 20th century and by 1914 the congregation stopped meeting regularly. However, the building was not abandoned and is used annually for sacred harp singing. It remains a prominent landmark on the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail. 

---

Despite its annual use the building is still threatened. Currently, the floor joists and foundation piers are failing, causing the floor to sag. Unfortunately, the Shoal Creek Preservation Society lacks the knowledge, skills, and funding to undertake a restoration of the foundation and floor. Ideally, the preservation society would receive help, either through financial donations or through donations of time and skill, to make the necessary repairs before issues begin to affect the integrity of the entire structure.
 
For more information on the Shoal Creek Baptist Church please contact:
 L. Alan Jones (Shoal Creek Preservation Society): 256.656.9811, ramblerhsv@gmail.com
Les Jones (Shoal Creek Preservation Society): 256.453.6581, leddjones@centurytel.net