Born from a school. That’s the unique story of the First Congregational Church of Savannah. This isn’t just any church. It’s a testament to education and faith intertwining.
The First Congregational Church stands proudly on Habersham Street. It’s on the western side of Whitefield Square. This beautiful Gothic structure wasn’t always here. It replaced a smaller meeting house in 1895. A major renovation happened in 1968. A 1940 storm sadly destroyed the original steeple. It wasn’t rebuilt until 1992.
The church’s story begins not in a pulpit but in a classroom. It emerged from the Oglethorpe Colored Free School. Founded in 1865 this school later became the Beach Institute. This institute was under the Colored Educational Association of Savannah. It was itself connected to the American Missionary Society of New York.
Thirteen men and women along with Reverend Robert L. Carter founded the First Congregational Church in April 1869. Initially meetings were held at the Beach Institute and other places. In 1878 the church acquired land on Taylor and Habersham Streets. The First Congregational Church was special. It included both white missionaries and African-American members from the start. Its first four ministers were all from New England.
The original Beach Institute building still stands today. It is now the Beach Institute African American Cultural Center on East Harris Street. Alfred Ely Beach donated the land for the institute. He was an inventor publisher and a descendant of prominent figures including William Brewster and Elihu Yale. The Madeline V. Hanne Fellowship Hall was added in 1976. The land came from a donation by St Joseph’s Hospital.
Solomon C. Johnson deserves mention. He was a church clerk and member for an incredible sixty years. His dedication speaks volumes about the church’s impact on Savannah. The First Congregational Church of Savannah is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a living legacy of education faith and community. A unique and powerful piece of Savannah’s history.