Augusta in Richmond County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Two Early Augusta Churches
Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 2008
1. Two Early Augusta Churches Marker
St. John Methodist Church was founded in 1798 by Stith Mead, a young Virginia minister who denounced the worldliness of fun-loving Augusta. Biship Francis Asbury visited the church and watched its growth with particular interest. Augustus B. Lonstreet and five Methodist Bishops, including James O. Andrew, George F. Pierce, and Warren R. Candler, were pastors of St. John. Lorenzo Dow the colorful and eccentric evangelist, also figured in the early history of the church. In 1844, the original church building contructed in 1801, began a new phase in its ecclesiastical history when it was sold to another early congregation, the Springfield Baptist Church. The structure was moved to the S.E. corner of Reynolds and Marbury - where for approximately 50 years before, members of what is usually considered the first Negro Baptist Church in America at Silver Bluff, South Carolina had worshiped after they fled with their masters to Augusta when the British occupied Silver Bluff in 1778. These Silver Bluff - refugee- charter members of the circa 1790 Springfield Baptist congregation, account for its claim that it is one of the oldest, if not the oldest
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Erected 1964 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 121-45.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Francis Asbury, Traveling Methodist Preacher, and the Georgia Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1798.
Location. 33° 28.37′ N, 81° 57.95′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County. Marker is on Greene Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 736 Greene St, Augusta GA 30901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Baptist Church Convention (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Baptist Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Church Of The Most Holy Trinity (about 400 feet away); Joseph R. Lamar, Associate Justice (about 500 feet away); Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson (about 500 feet away); Emily Tubman Monument (about 500 feet away); Samuel Hammond (about 600 feet away); First Christian Church (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.
Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Lorenzo Dow. His autobiography at one time was the second-best selling
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008
2. Two Early Augusta Churches Marker
2. Wikipedia entry for Augustus Baldwin Longstreet. He graduated at Yale (1813) and practiced law in Georgia, becoming a district judge in 1822 and holding the position for several years, after which he resumed his legal practice in Augusta, did editorial work, and established the Sentinel, which soon merged with the Chronicle (1838). He became a Methodist minister and in a year was made president of Emory College (1839). (Submitted on August 14, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
3. Reminiscences of Famous Georgians By Lucian Lamar Knight, pages 599-602. Bishop James O. Andrew (Submitted on August 14, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008
3. St John United Methodist Church and Marker
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008
4. St John United Methodist Church
Photographed By Craig Doda, November 11, 2022
5. Two Early Augusta Churches Cornerstone
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,227 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on November 15, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
