Though located in the heart of the historic district of Columbus, St. George’s Anglican dates to 1987. Its simple architecture, with Gothic influence, is well-suited to the district.
St. George’s Anglican Church, 1987, Columbus
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Tag Archives: Churches of Muscogee County GA
Greater Saint Mark AME Church, 1961, Columbus
Greater Saint Mark was organized in as Saint Mark AME Church in 1886 and the present sanctuary was built in 1961, during the pastorate of Rev. W. L. Brown. An old cornerstone saved by the congregation indicates an earlier church was built in 1889, during the pastorate of Rev. M. R. Wilson.
Friendship Baptist Church, Circa 1897 + 1922, Columbus
Friendship Baptist Church was established circa 1892 when “...a band of Christian believers, only seventeen in number organized in an old house on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street...The ministers who took part in this organization were Rev. Henry Wright, Rev. Allen Miles, Rev. Henry Threatt, and Rev. Alberdeen McCall. The following brethren were the first deacons: Alexander Kendrix, Sam Colbert, and Samuel Cooper. Some of the first members were Sisters Anna Kendrix, Emeline Foster, and others whose names are not recorded...” [From the church website.] The historic marker in front of the church notes that Rev. J. S. Kelsey was the first minister, from 1897-1901, and that the sanctuary was begun during his pastorate.
A remodeling and expansion which gave the church its present appearance was begun in 1919 and completed in 1922, during the 43-year pastorate of Rev. Riley King Paschal (1868-1944). His initials, RKP, are embedded in brick in the front gable. During Rev. Paschal’s tenure, Gertrude Pridgett “Ma” Rainey, who had retired from touring and returned home to Columbus, was an active member of Friendship Baptist Church.
Saint James AME Church, 1876, Columbus
Saint James is one of the most beautiful historic churches in Columbus. The following history (abridged), is from the church website: Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church of Columbus, Georgia was organized in November 1863. [It is the second oldest AME church in Georgia.] In 1864, the Reverend William Gaines, an ordained Deacon and brother of Bishop J. Gaines of Charleston, SC, became the first pastor of Saint James. The property on which Saint James AME Church stands was given to the African Methodist Episcopal Church by an act of the Georgia Legislature in 1873. The present edifice, a cathedral in structure and design, was erected during the pastorate of the Reverend Wesley J. Gaines at a cost of $20,000.00. It was completed in 1876. The bell tower was built while the Reverend Larry Thomas was pastor (1886-1887). The most interesting features of the building are the center spire and twin turrets on each side of the tower built in 1886. The twin turrets are stone trimmed and have brick details on the exterior. The interior spiral stairs lead from the narthex to the balcony. A semicircular apse containing an altar and choir loft was added at a later date.
National Register of Historic Places
First African Baptist Church, 1915, Columbus
First African Baptist Church is the oldest Black congregation in Columbus. In 1840, after 11 years of worshiping with White congregants of Ephesus Baptist Church, enslaved members, along with free people of color, formed the African Baptist Church.
They first met in the former home of Ephesus Baptist, built in 1830 and vacated for a larger sanctuary. White ministers would serve the African Baptist Church until the early 1860s. In 1862, a gift to the African Baptist Church from Ephesus allowed construction of a new chapel. The first Black minister was Rev. Harry Watson.
A fire claimed the new church in the 1870s and a brick structure replaced it in 1881. The new church was located at 6th Avenue and 11th Street and the name was changed to Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. In the 1880s and 1890s, discord among members led to the formation of Metropolitan Baptist Church and Friendship Baptist Church.
The present church was built in 1915, during the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Carter. It grew from the membership of earlier and disparate congregations and was christened First African Baptist Church. In one form or another, it has served the Black community of Columbus for the better part of two centuries. The “Mother of the Blues”, Gertrude Pridgett (later known as Ma Rainey) was baptized at First African Baptist.
National Register of Historic Places
St. John A.M.E. Church, 1870, Columbus
The second oldest A. M. E. congregation in Georgia (after Savannah’s St. Phillip’s), St. John A. M. E. has weathered numerous challenges throughout its history.
The church notes: On September 18, 1870, a third Sunday, African Americans’ fellowship became Saint John Chapel, now known as Saint John African Methodist Episcopal Church. The people were. a part of Saint James AME church members but decided to begin a new fellowship by God’s guidance. According to the Columbus Enquirer in an article on March 29, 1970, a local newspaper, a “New Church Enterprise,” purchased the lot opposite the Claflin Institute and erected a church building. The location was Fifth Avenue in downtown Columbus Georgia. In a short time, a spacious church building for the Saint John people and denomination happened. Among the founding members of Saint John were Edmund Baily and Alexander Howard of Columbus, Georgia. Alexander Howard was the grandfather of Bishop Richard R. Wright Jr. and former college president of Wilberforce. By the record of the cornerstone, the first pastor of Saint John was Reverend Dr. John G. Mitchell. Also, Reverend Dr. John G. Mitchell was one of the founders of the first free-standing HBCUs in America, Wilberforce University, in 1894.
The original structure was a two-story building with a wooden framed top and bricked bottom. As the story goes, Saint John had “brick rallies” and “carpenter rallies” to beautify their building. Many white people of Columbus and other African Americans gave liberally to support the church’s building. Later, the entire building was veneered with brick from the ground to the roof. In 1890, Reverend T.M. Mitchell built the basement. Saint John African Methodist Episcopal Church was considered one of the very best church buildings architecturally because of the simplicity of its Victorian Gothic style. To the north, its round tower and the conical roof were one of a kind. On the opposite front side of the building was a square tower that housed the melodious church bell. It reminded the members of Sunday school and church. It tolled sadly when a member died. The doorway was also beautifully designed.
It was damaged by fire in 1951, lost its roof to a tornado in 1991, and survived an arson attempt in 1998. The congregation moved to a different location after the last fire. Presently, it is home to a Church of God, who has worked diligently to secure its place as one of Columbus’ most important African-American landmarks.
National Register of Historic Places
First Presbyterian Church, 1862, Columbus
The Presbyterians organized at Columbus in 1830, first meeting in the courthouse. The Reverend John Baker of Savannah was the first pastor. At least two churches predated the present one, which was completed in the early days of the Civil War. After it was partially destroyed by fire in 1891, it was rebuilt.
National Register of Historic Places