Rock Spring Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Modeled on small English country churches, this Presbyterian church on Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta was completed in 1923 to designs by English-born architect Charles H. Hopson, who was an elder in the congregation. The cross-shaped building has a blue-grey granite base, half-timbered and stucco upper walls, an octagonal shingled spire, stained glass windows and a hammerbeam ceiling inside. Local granite was quarried about a mile and a half away, and church members hauled the stone with mule teams. A c. 1939 brick manse is also part of the nominated property. The church is considered significant because no other surviving historic Atlanta church of its era combines these Tudor features, and it is Hopson's only known Tudor Revival work. It also reflects the Presbyterian congregation founded in 1870 in a rural, working-class community that Atlanta's growth largely erased. The church remains the last visible trace of that community and is still in religious use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a unique Atlanta example of English Vernacular or Tudor Revival design, using half-timbering, a hammerbeam ceiling and native granite. It is also the work of English-born architect Charles H. Hopson. It represents the minority Presbyterian faith in a Baptist and Methodist area and is the last visible remnant of the former Rock Spring community.
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 90000804, listed May 24, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1824 Piedmont Ave. NE., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | May 24, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000804 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Hopson, Charles H. (1865-1941) |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church, the same purpose as its historic function. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.80478, -84.36806 (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 90000804.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15051822
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.