In 1841 he spent four days at Montpelier Springs (a location south of Forsyth, which had operated as a health and recreation resort from at least 1831, and included a hotel)[4] working on organizing schools and an adjacent church.

He recorded that On the fourth Sunday after Easter, 1841, I confirmed in the temporary Chapel of the Springs, seventeen persons, thirteen of whom were slaves.

That December, he reported that when he went back to Montpelier Springs to inspect the schools and make arrangements for the winter term, I found everything in the very best condition, full of promise to the Church and to the State.

In 1850, the school debts had mounted to a degree that Bishop Elliott was obliged to sell all of his land and his considerable holdings in enslaved persons.

After the start of the Civil War, however, numbers dropped and the buildings were used as the depot for military supplies shipped from Savannah and Augusta.

[6] There had been recent renovations in 1866, when an advertisement appeared for the start of the September term at what was now named the ‘Montpelier Collegiate Institute’.

[7] A fire occurred in 1872, which appears to have marked a temporary end to teaching there, but Pryse undertook to continue holding services at the chapel.