Rockdale Baptist Church Rockdale Baptist Church is located at 1295 Smyrna Road, southeast of Conyers. It was founded on May 29, 1847, at its present location, which was then a part of Newton County, now Rockdale.

Organizers of this church were: the Revs. James R. George, Nathan Johnson, Stephen Mayfield, and James Nix. The Rev. James R. George served as the first pastor. Initial church clerk was J. G. Snead and John E. Reagan served as the first treasurer. Charter members included: the Reagans (John E., Mary), the Pitts (William, Elizabeth), the McClungs (John, Sara, Mary, Nancy), the Damerons (E. 0., Emily), the Sneads (John G., Mary), and Elias Wooley.

The original 1847 church building was known as “The Rockdale Meeting House,” and it served until the 1870’s. Plans for a new church were initiated on October 14, 1871, and the resulting house of worship was used until 1902. On the second Sunday in August, 1902, a new church building was dedicated. The dedicatory message was delivered by the Rev. W. T. Granade, who has been ordained to the ministry by this church on December 29, 1898. A recreation building, with auditorium, and kitchen facilities was completed and dedicated in 1951. A new educational building was dedicated on February 17, 1963. Mr. Jack U. Harwell, Associate Editor of the Christian Index brought the dedicatory message.

​In 1969, plans were completed for the building of a new Sanctuary to replace the one erected in 1902. Ground was broken on February 14, 1969. The new sanctuary was dedicated on August 10, 1969. The dedicatory message was delivered by Dr. 0. M. Cates, Secretary of Evangelism of the Georgia Baptist Convention. The recreation building, completed and dedicated in 1951, has since been destroyed by fire. A fellowship hall replaced this building and was dedicated in 1977.
(from The History of Rockdale County, pub. 1978)

Rockdale County named for Rockdale Baptist Church?  Not True

It has been considered a matter of pride among some members that the county was actually named after our church!  In fact, the book - A History of Rockdale County, copywrite 1978, page 15, seems to support this idea. However, after researching the matter further, there are multiple newspaper articles, all prior to the founding of Rockdale Baptist Church in 1847, that seems to contradict this common belief. In 1829, an article in the Savannah Republican newspaper indicated that a new Post Office department had been established called Rockdale in Newton County. And in 1830, an article in the Federal Union newspaper (Milledgeville), there are references to the Rock Dale district in Newton County. Finally, it appears in The Heritage of Rockdale County, GA copywrite 1998, page 6, that states - "The name Rockdale was in use long before Rockdale officially became a county."