Historic Churches of Savannah #1

Lutheran Church of the Ascension 1744

Climbing the stairs...you see orbs

The stained glass is stunning and the walls were a muted green.

The history of the church



First African Baptist Church 1775

We took a tour and out guide, Johnny, was fascinating! The church building and the congregation began with both free and enslaved African Americans. Those who were enslaved would work during the days for their masters, but then spend other hours building the church. Many of the slaves gave the monies they had been saving (to purchase their freedom) to the church for building supplies. The walls are over 2 feet thick and made of the bricks and stones of the area. The structure has survived multiple hurricanes and an earthquake.

The church was designed, engineered and built by the congregation. The stained glass shows the six pastors they have had. Dr. Martin L King has spoken here.

The original benches all hand made.

The balcony view

The ends of the pews have markings on them. Johnny theorized that the slaves knew a form of Hewbrew and used their thumbnails to carve names. Many of the slaves in the 1730's are from the eastern Ethiopia coast of Africa and would have known Hebrew and a form of Christianity.

The church was also a stop on the Underground Railroad. Under the floor is a network of tunnels that lead out of the building. The holes on the floor provide air to the hiding people but also represent a religious tribal symbol from the Congo

A christian cross within a diamond.

Christ Church 1733

John Wesley, founder of Methodism and a friend of Oglethorpe (founder of Georgia) was rector for several years when the congregation began.