Landmark Preservation Consulting

The Oldest Parcel Continously Owned by African Americans

First Bryan Baptist Church is considered the oldest, continuous black congregation in North America, constituted under Rev. George Leile in 1777. One of Leile’s visits was to Brampton Plantation where four slaves were converted and baptized. Those slaves were Andrew Bryan, his wife Hannah, Kate Hogg and Hager Simpson. Shortly after, Andrew Bryan began visiting plantations along with Leile. On January 20, 1788 during a visit to Yamacraw, black and white persons had gathered to hear the preaching. One white reverend, Reverend Abraham Marshall, baptized forty-five converted people and ordained Andrew Bryan. After securing his freedom, Reverend Bryan was able to solely devote his time to ministry. A lot was conveyed on June 1, 1790 to “free Andrew” by Mr. Thomas Gibbons in order for Reverend Bryan to build his congregation. The lot was situated between Mill Street and Indian Street Lane, neither of which exist today. Knowing this lot and structure were a temporary location members of the church, as well as white supporters who were sympathetic to the efforts of the church, donated funds in order for Reverend Bryan to purchase the lot on which the church now stands for “thirty pounds sterling.” The deed is dated September 4, 1793 and the site is described as Lot No. 7, Middle Oglethorpe Ward, 90’-5” front and 132 1/2’ deep. Arguably, this makes the site the oldest parcel of real estate continuously owned by African Americans in the United States.

On August 1873, while in conference, the congregation decided to tear down the original building built by Reverend Andrew Bryan and erect a new, modernized edifice for worship. The draft of the plan made by architect John B. Hogg (white), a civil engineer and city surveyor, free of charge, was shown to the congregation. The plan was accepted on September 29, 1873, at the last communion in the old building. The cornerstone for the new building (present edifice) was laid on October 13, 1873, by the Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of Georgia, and attended by two subordinate Lodges.

In October 1940, the Yamacraw community became Yamacraw Village when the cornerstone was laid for the federal housing project that still surrounds the church today. First Bryan Baptist Church remained standing at the center of this project and extended its services community-wide to serve the population. In 1951, the construction of the Educational Building began. The building was named after Dr. M. P. Sessoms, who was a superintendent of the Sunday School, the Chairman of Finance for First Bryan Baptist, a First Bryan Baptist Trustee, and a local physician. Sessoms Hall was dedicated on Sunday, June 10, 1951, with a service attended by more than 600 people. The building provided offices, classroom spaces, an auditorium, and a kitchen.

In 2022, the First Bryan Baptist Church (FBBC) commissioned Landmark Preservation Consulting LLC (LPC), to perform a building assessment of First Bryan Baptist Church located within the Yamacraw Neighborhood in Savannah, Georgia. The purpose of this assessment is to provide an understanding of the building’s conditions, identify building deficiencies, and provide recommendations for the restoration, and rehabilitation of the church.

FBBC also hired LPC to complete their applications for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Preserving Black Churches Grant and the Partners for Sacred Places Grant. FBBC was honored by receiving funds from both grants to undergo their restoration and rehabilitation campaign.

Further preservation consulting services include: client representation through Section 106 review process, site and monument commission application to add a bronze bust of Reverend Andrew Bryan to Yamacraw Square, zoning ordinance text amendment application to add Sessoms Hall to the local historic district contributing building list, certificate of appropriateness application for exterior repairs, and archival research.