Walthourville Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Set in a rural part of Long County, Georgia, this white-washed frame church was dedicated in July 1884 and is the fourth building to serve the area's Presbyterian congregation. Earlier structures were built in 1820 and 1845, and others were lost to fire in 1877 and a storm in 1881. The church is designed in a vernacular Gothic Revival manner, with a three-stage belfry and steeple dominating the entrance front, lancet-arched windows fitted with louvered shutters, and paneled double doors. Inside, a rear balcony, original heart pine pews, and a pair of original kerosene ceiling fixtures remain, along with a raised altar beneath a broad round arch. Apart from a concrete entrance platform and some modern lighting, little has changed, and the building has no air conditioning. A 1974 county survey identified only two rural churches, neither as intact. This exceptional preservation is the basis for its listing for architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church meets Criterion C as a remarkably unaltered example of a late 19th-century vernacular Gothic Revival church. It retains its original exterior and interior features and furnishings. A 1974 county survey found no other rural church in Long County with comparable integrity.
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 87001357, listed August 6, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Allenhurst Antioch Rd., Walthourville |
|---|---|
| County | Long County |
| Listed | August 6, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001357 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as excellent condition and unaltered, on its original site. The status is marked unoccupied, with no air conditioning, and a separate postwar fellowship hall stands nearby. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.75019, -81.61390 (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 87001357.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14686935
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.