First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Completed in 1858, this Macon church on Mulberry Street is a Romanesque Revival building whose 183-foot tower, topped by a copper-shingled spire and finial, dominates the downtown skyline. The symmetrical structure has round-arched windows and niches, octagonal buttresses at each corner and stuccoed brick walls scored to resemble stone blocks. Inside, four massive wooden scissors trusses carry the roof over a sanctuary that is wide in proportion to its length. The interior was substantially altered in 1893, a Sunday School building was added in 1926, and a large addition was attached to the rear in 1963. It is the third building erected by Macon Presbyterians, whose congregation was chartered a few years after the city was laid out in 1823. The church faces the Grand Opera House, and the two buildings anchor a neighborhood that was once an exclusive residential area. Early members included authors, a poet and a Confederate congressman.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the church as a long-standing historical and architectural landmark and the third building erected by Macon Presbyterians. Its symmetrical Romanesque Revival design features round-arched openings, corner octagonal buttresses, a dominant tower and massive wooden scissors trusses. It also anchors a changing downtown area across from the Grand Opera House.
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 72000364, listed September 14, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 690 Mulberry St., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | September 14, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000364 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1858) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and occupied, in religious use; altered over time, with an interior remodeling in 1893, a Sunday School building in 1926 and a rear addition in 1963. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Macon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.83831, -83.62956 (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 72000364.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453597
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.