First African Baptist Church undergoes renovations

by Patrick Cox

On the northeast corner of Franklin Square, between W. Bryan and Montgomery St. a building sits on a cornerstone of Savannah’s deep and rich history. First African Baptist Church has been standing in this same place for 160 years, since 1859.

First African was officially constituted in December of 1777 under the leadership of Reverend George Leile, and it’s said to be, “The Oldest Black Church in North America.” This December, the church will celebrate its 242nd congressional anniversary.

With First African’s steadfast location, it’s unusual to see scaffolding covering the face of the church from head to toe and blocking both main entrances of the building. What changes could be made to such a historic building? After attending a Sunday morning service, or taking a tour offered by First African, it’s immediately clear that the plastic wrap and yellow tape are not exclusive to the exterior. Inside the sanctuary the entire left side is sealed off with plastic from the balcony to the floor to prevent dust or debris from leaving the renovation zone.

It’s hard to ignore, but during this past Sunday’s worship service, a senior member of the church, quickly noted, “We’re not going to sugarcoat it. I know you’ve seen this thing to my left. Sometimes we have to tear things down to make room for the new and build ourselves up.”

Behind the plastic is a fresh coat of paint for the walls, new carpet and floor repairs to make the aisles safer to walk down. Renovations in the interior are not major but necessary to keep the church running for the community and looking fresh for the incredible number of visitors that come each year. Attend any service and Reverend Tillman, the church’s reverend, thanks guests for joining the congregation while simultaneously asking where the visitors are from, with most Sunday’s guaranteeing some from overseas.

The exterior, however, is a different story. Reverend Tillman explained to the congregation before the offering that the renovations were approximately $600,000 and that the bell tower was undergoing changes. Renovations to the bell tower haven’t occurred since it was blown over by a hurricane in the late 1800s and was replaced in 1925. While waiting for repairs and reconstruction to begin, the steeple is currently in the First African parking lot.

The project is set to be completed by December 8, the church’s 242nd anniversary, as a celebration.

To learn more about ongoing projects and outreach visit the First African Baptist Church website.