The Isle of Hope, located on the Intracoastal Waterway southeast of  Savannah, Georgia, has a rich history dating back to the early 18th  century. Originally settled in 1736, the island was divided among  three prominent men, including Noble Jones, whose estate,  “Wormslow,” offered a view of “Mr. Whitefield’s Orphan  House” (Bethesda). Baptist influence in the area can be traced to the  mid-18th century, with significant events such as the first known  administration of Baptist ordinances in Georgia taking place at  Bethesda in 1763. 

The island’s history also includes notable landmarks and stories from later years. A replica of the original Isle of Hope Methodist Church, built in 1859, stands on Parkersburg Road, and local history buff B. T. Byrd’s map pinpoints the watering hole for Sherman’s horses during his “March to the Sea”. Other significant sites include Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church (1874), and Saint Thomas Episcopal Church (1872).

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the development of subdivisions on Isle of Hope led to an influx of Baptist families who traveled to Savannah for worship services. This prompted the establishment of the Isle of Hope Baptist Church, with early meetings held in the Isle of Hope Community House. The church’s formation was supported by the Bull Street Baptist Church and the Savannah Baptist Association, with Lawrence Hardy serving as the first pastor in 1952.

Under the leadership of laymen and later pastors like Charles Wray, the church grew, with the organization of Sunday School classes and the ordination of deacons . The purchase of a lot for a future church building marked a significant step in the church’s development, solidifying the Baptist presence on Isle of Hope.