Paradise Park in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

White Bluff Meeting House

American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2008

1. White Bluff Meeting House Marker

Inscription. Here meets the oldest congregation following the Reformed (Calvinistic) theological tradition in continuous service in Georgia. In 1737, 160 Reformed Germans came to Savannah seeking religious freedom. After working their terms as indentured servants the colonists petitioned the Trustees of the colony for a Reformed minister. In August, 1745 the Trustees acceded to the petition and granted a two-acre tract for the church and a glebe of land for the support of the ministry. The glebe land was officially granted by King George II in 1759. The first minister was John Joakim Zulby who also served in the Second Continental Congress.

Erected 1980 by Georgia Historic Marker. (Marker Number 025-92/98.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Notable Places • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites, and the Georgia Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1737.

Location. 31° 59.159′ N, 81° 7.739′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in Paradise Park. It is on White Bluff Road north of Magnolia Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31419, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Coastal Plain and on the Georgia Coast and the Golden Isles.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Haven Home Industrial Training School (approx. 1.1 miles away); Vernonburg (approx. 1.3 miles away); Capture of the USS "Water Witch" (approx. 1.4 miles away); St. Joseph's Hospital (approx. 1½ miles away); Nicholsonboro (approx. 1.8 miles away); Byrd Cookie Company (approx. 2.4 miles away); Brick Pillar (approx. 2.7 miles away); Pin Point Community (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Regarding White Bluff Meeting House. As mentioned on the marker, "glebe" refers to a plot of land belonging or yielding profit to an English parish church or an ecclesiastical office.

The White Bluff Presbyterian Church is one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).

The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:

The White Bluff congregation was the first of the Reformed tradition in Georgia. As early as February 1743, a group of German emigrants began to petition the Trustees of the Colony of Georgia for land upon which to build
Photographed by Mike Stroud, July 2008

2. White Bluff Meeting House Marker
a church. In 1759, King George II, confirmed the Trust Colony gift of two acres. In 1745, the first church building, which also served as a school, was built on the site. The present and probably fourth church building was erected in 1962.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, July 2008

3. White Bluff Meeting House Marker

With Windsor Forest Presbyterian Church school in the background.

Photographed by Mike Stroud

4. White Bluff Meeting House Marker

In front of Windsor Forest Presbyterian Church.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,660 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on August 15, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1. submitted on January 10, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 21, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.