More than a year after the historic stained-glass windows at First Antioch Missionary Baptist Church were vandalized, the preservation project is now complete.
The 1921 church is home to one of the region’s oldest African American congregations. After the building’s windows were vandalized multiple times, First Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Historic Valdosta, and the Lowndes-Valdosta community came together to protect this treasured historic place.
The effort received an outpouring of support from individuals, businesses, organizations, and community partners. A 2026 Callahan Incentive Grant from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation provided important support for the project. Community donations allowed the church to expand the work to include scraping and repainting the window frames before the replacement stained glass and protective coverings were installed.
Project lead, Jacqueline Carter carefully located appropriately colored glass for the damaged windows. Restoration materials and protective coverings for all of the church’s stained-glass windows were provided by GlassPro by American Glass in Valdosta.
The completed work will help preserve the restored windows and protect them from future damage. The project was completed on September 8, 2026.
First Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and Historic Valdosta extend their sincere gratitude to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the Callahan Incentive Grant program, every donor, community partner, project team member, and supporter who helped make this preservation effort possible. Appreciation is also extended to The Valdosta Daily Times, WALB, WTXL, and Georgia Public Broadcasting for sharing the church’s story and bringing awareness to the preservation campaign. A special thank you to Historic Valdosta president, Vickie Everitte for overseeing the fundraising and grant submission efforts.
The completion of this project demonstrates what can be accomplished when a community comes together to protect its history and preserve an important landmark for future generations.
Mark your calendars for the Saturday, October 3, Stained Glass Window tour, consisting of 10 historic church interiors, Studio 8 Architects and The Valdosta Crescent. The seslf guided tour will take place from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. and all proceeds benefit Valdosta stained glass window projects. $15 TICKETS may be purchased through the link or from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. the event day of at the Pentecostal House of Prayer 315 E. Central Avenue.
