Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church
Why it's listed
Perched on the upper end of a long slope in the Sierra foothills, St. Sava's is a small, simple brick church in the Mother Lode town of Jackson. Parish members built it in 1894 under builder Mr. Thompson, and it was consecrated on December 4 of that year. The one-story building has buttressed brick walls, arched windows, a square bell tower, a semicircular apse on the east and a narthex on the west. Inside are a nave, a chancel and an iconostasis. A parish cemetery, begun in 1887, surrounds it on three sides. The church is regarded as the first Serbian Orthodox church in America. It was organized by Serbian gold miners and their families, and it has served as a center of Serbian religious, social and cultural life ever since. Its design reflects small churches of Serbia and neighboring lands, though an onion-shaped cupola was replaced in 1930 and a vestibule was added. The original brass bell, cast in 1894, is still in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant as the first Serbian Orthodox church in America. It has also been the continuing focus of Serbian culture and unity in the Jackson area since the 1890s. Its design carries traditional references to small churches of Yugoslavia, brought by immigrant Serbian gold miners and their families.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000385, listed March 6, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 724 N. Main, Jackson |
|---|---|
| County | Amador County |
| Listed | March 6, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000385 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Mr. Thompson and parish members |
| Architectural style | Eastern Orthodox influenced design (Serbian church tradition) |
| Areas of significance | European, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in continuous use as a church since 1894; condition of the fabric is described as good, with relatively high integrity. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.35590, -120.77636 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000385.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7402153
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.