First Methodist Episcopal Church
Also known as: Stillmore United Methodist Church; Stillmore Methodist Episcopal Church South
Why it's listed
Brick walls, round-arched windows and a three-story corner tower define this Romanesque Revival church in Stillmore, Georgia. Architect Charles Edward Choate designed it, and it was built in 1907-1908 after lightning and fire destroyed the congregation's first frame church. Choate had served as the congregation's first pastor in 1892 before leaving the ministry for architecture. A fire in December 1915 destroyed much of the interior, but the exterior walls survived, and the church was rebuilt in 1916 to the original design with minor changes, such as a raised chancel ceiling. The building is significant as an excellent example of Choate's early work and of Romanesque Revival architecture, a style that was uncommon in Georgia. The state survey identifies only 81 buildings as Romanesque Revival, and 40 of these are churches. A social hall was added at the rear in the mid-1990s. The church remains an active Methodist congregation.
Significance in brief: The church is significant in architecture as an excellent example of the early work of Charles Edward Choate, one of Georgia's most prolific architects. It is also an excellent example of Romanesque Revival style in Georgia, where the style was among the less popular historical styles. Only 81 of 43,800 surveyed buildings are identified as Romanesque Revival.
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 99000160, listed February 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Third Ave. and Third St., Stillmore |
|---|---|
| County | Emanuel County |
| Listed | February 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000160 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907-1916 |
| Architect / builder | Choate, Charles Edward |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church remains active and is currently known as the Stillmore United Methodist Church. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.44137, -82.21361 (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 99000160.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q30603557
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.