In 1802, not long after the Revolutionary War, Sweetwater Baptist Church was established in the midst of the swamps, woods, farms and plantations of Thomson, GA. The first recorded pastor was the Rev. Vincent A. Tharp who was reportedly one of the men of the “Swamp Fox” Brigade. Many of the early pastors played a significant role in the Revolutionary War which cultivated their strong character to develop the church. By 1805 there were 88 members of the church, and in 1818 the first building was built for $1800 on 4 acres of land costing $5. In 1838 there were 174 members - 47 white males, 89 white females, and 38 blacks. The church has experienced a lot of historic changes over the years, however the focus has always been to nurture “each other toward spiritual growth. Sweetwater is a church which looks back proudly on it’s rich heritage, while looking ahead toward a challenging future.”