First African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff
Also known as: Raccoon Bluff Church
Why it's listed
Standing on the east side of Sapelo Island, Georgia, this small frame church built around 1900 is the last surviving building of the Raccoon Bluff community. That settlement began in 1871, when freedman William Hillery and two other freedmen bought the tract, making it the first black-owned land on the island. The church has a gabled sanctuary, a west-end porch with a recessed entrance, and a raised east-end choir. Gothic-arched louvered windows in the gable ends, colored-glass Queen Anne-style windows, and original wood floors and beaded paneling remain, all made by local craftsmen. The congregation dates from 1866, and the building served as the town church for baptisms, weddings and funerals until the population moved to Hog Hammock in the early 1960s. Its bell tower and balcony have been removed, and it is now unoccupied and in fair condition. It was listed for its role in African-American community life and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The church is significant in Black ethnic heritage as one of the few major post-Civil War African-American community landmarks on Sapelo Island and the only remnant of the island's oldest black-owned land settlement, founded in 1871. It is also significant in architecture as a modest, good example of a turn-of-the-century Gothic Revival African-American church built by local craftsmen. It served as the only church for the island's largest African-American community from c.1900 into the 1960s.
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 96000916, listed September 6, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E side of Sapelo Island, approximately 2 mi. N of Hog Hammock, Hog Hammock |
|---|---|
| County | McIntosh County |
| Listed | September 6, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000916 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1900-1964 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently unoccupied and in fair condition; the bell tower, balcony, balcony stairs and church furniture have been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.46689, -81.23224 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 96000916.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452260
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.