Historic District - North in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
First Baptist Church
1800 Sesquicentennial 1950
— Savannah, Georgia —
Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 9, 2008
1. First Baptist Church Marker
Inscription.
First Baptist Church. 1800 Sesquicentennial 1950. On November 26, 1800 the Reverend Henry Holcombe and fifteen other Baptists organized the Savannah Baptist Church. As early as 1795 a group of interested Baptists had erected a house of worship on Franklin Square where the congregation worshipped for thirty-three years. The Sunday School was organized there on April 29, 1827., During the Pastorate of the Reverend Henry O. Wyer the cornerstone of the present church on Chippewa Square was laid on February 2, 1831 and the building was completely renovated in 1921. Since 1847 the church has been called the First Baptist Church. In 1926 the Educational Building was erected and dedicated to the memory of John J. Cummings., The church has had a long line of distinguished deacons and members who have given it their support, devotion and prayers. The Pastors have been Henry Holcombe, William B. Johnson, Benjamin Screven, James Sweat, James Meredith, Henry O. Wyer, Josiah S. Law, Charles B. Jones, J. G. Binney, Albert Williams, Joseph T. Robert, Thomas Rambaut, J.B. Stiteler, G.S. Daniel, Sylvanus Landrum, Timothy Harley, J.E.L. Holmes, S.A. Goodwin, J.D. Jordan, W.L. Pickard, J.J. Taylor, L.R. Christie, Norman W. Cox, John E. White, Arthur Jackson, and Leroy G. Cleverdon., This tablet is given in grateful recognition to God for his Divine Blessings on the church and is dedicated to the memories of the Reverend Henry Holcombe and those who succeeded him in its Ministry. Done with appropriate exercises on this the twenty-sixth day of November One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty and Fiftieth Anniversary of the organization of the First Baptist Church of Savannah Georgia.
On November 26, 1800 the Reverend Henry Holcombe
and fifteen other Baptists organized the Savannah
Baptist Church. As early as 1795 a group of interested
Baptists had erected a house of worship on Franklin
Square where the congregation worshipped for
thirty-three years. The Sunday School was organized
there on April 29, 1827.
During the Pastorate of the Reverend Henry O. Wyer
the cornerstone of the present church on Chippewa
Square was laid on February 2, 1831 and the building
was completely renovated in 1921. Since 1847 the
church has been called the First Baptist Church. In
1926 the Educational Building was erected and
dedicated to the memory of John J. Cummings.
The church has had a long line of distinguished
deacons and members who have given it their
support, devotion and prayers. The Pastors have
been Henry Holcombe, William B. Johnson,
Benjamin Screven, James Sweat, James Meredith,
Henry O. Wyer, Josiah S. Law, Charles B. Jones,
J. G. Binney, Albert Williams, Joseph T. Robert,
Thomas Rambaut, J.B. Stiteler, G.S. Daniel, Sylvanus
Landrum, Timothy Harley, J.E.L. Holmes, S.A. Goodwin,
J.D. Jordan, W.L. Pickard, J.J. Taylor, L.R. Christie,
Norman W. Cox, John E. White, Arthur Jackson, and
Leroy G. Cleverdon.
This tablet is given in grateful recognition to God
for his Divine Blessings
Click or scan to see this page online
on the church and is
dedicated to the memories of the Reverend Henry
Holcombe and those who succeeded him in its
Ministry. Done with appropriate exercises on this
the twenty-sixth day of November One Thousand
Nine Hundred and Fifty and Fiftieth Anniversary of
the organization of the First Baptist Church of
Savannah Georgia.
Location. 32° 4.567′ N, 81° 5.629′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in the Historic District - North. Marker is on Bull St. near W. McDonough St., on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
1800 One Hundred Seventy-fifth Celebration 1975 First Baptist Church
Savannah, Georgia
Since the last celebration of the founding of the
First Baptist Church, Savannah, Georgia, two
pastors have been added to the list of clergy
who have served this congregation:
W. Forrest Lanier and Thomas D. Austin.
Likewise, changes have occurred in this
congregation's physical plant, the sanctuary,
erected in 1831, was completely renovated
and restored in 1966. Also, the Educational
Building, erected in 1926, was renovated and
refurbished in 1974-1975.
This tablet is affixed to the First Baptist Church
Edifice in memory and honor of those Lay
Persons who have envisioned, erected and
maintained this place of worship, learning
and fellowship.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Marker dedicated to William Bullien Johnson, one of the pastors of Savannah First Baptist Church.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008
3. First Baptist Church Sesquicentennial Marker at center
One Hundred Seventy-fifth Celebration, partially seen behind tree
Historic American Buildings Survey
4. First Baptist Church
Historic American Engineering Record HABS GA,26-SAV,69-2
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008
5. First Baptist Church Marker
223 Bull Street
Chartered on November 26, 1800
Savannah's oldest house
worship was erected in 1830-1833.
Worship Hour- Eleven o'clock
Clergy
John M. Finley, Senior Minister
James C. Richardson, Associate Minister
Carolyn Hale Cubbage, Assistant Minister
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,285 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 18, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on June 11, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on November 18, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.