A rural south Georgia church built in the mid-1800s has been added to the official list of America's most treasured historic places.

Liberty Baptist Church in Brooks County, just west of Valdosta, was granted a listing in late August in the National Register of Historic Places. The tall, rectangular-framed church was built sometime around 1858 by a congregation that had broken away from nearby Mt. Moriah Church over theological differences.

Officials with the Georgia Historic Preservation Division say the sanctuary includes a balcony, which was a common feature during the period to give slaves a separate space to attend worship services. It's also likely that slaves helped construct the church.

State officials say the church's exterior and sanctuary have survived with few alterations, which is rare for antebellum buildings.

Tags: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, historic preservation, Quitman, Brooks County, National Register of Historic Places, historic church, liberty baptist church