First Presbyterian Church of Augusta
Also known as: Christ Church
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Why it's listed
Downtown Augusta's First Presbyterian Church began as Christ Church, with its cornerstone laid on July 4, 1809, and the sanctuary completed on May 17, 1812. Robert Mills drew the original Classical plans in 1807, and those drawings survive. In 1847 the building was remodeled with round-arched openings, a rose window, crenelated roof edges and a groined, bossed ceiling, giving it a Romanesque look. Its brick walls are covered in scored stucco that resembles stone. Four halls were added to the sides and rear between 1951 and 1978. The grounds include a historic fence and the grave and statue of Rev. Robert Irvine. The church matters for its changing architecture and for its religious history. It is the city's oldest Presbyterian church building. Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, father of President Woodrow Wilson, served as pastor, and in 1861 the church hosted the founding of the Confederate Presbyterian General Assembly. The same congregation has used it continuously since 1812.
Significance in brief: The church is significant in architecture for showing how a Classical building by Robert Mills was changed over time to follow prevailing church styles, and for its Romanesque remodeling of 1847. It is significant in social history and religion as the oldest Presbyterian church building in Augusta, in a state dominated by Baptists and Methodists. It also hosted the 1861 founding of the Presbyterian Church General Assembly for the Confederate States.
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 97000100, listed February 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 642 Telfair St., Augusta |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Listed | February 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000100 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1809-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Robert Mills |
| Architectural style | MID-19TH CENTURY/Early Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in continuous use as a church, with a recent sanctuary renovation and plans for a new Sunday school building. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | Augusta Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.47052, -81.96496 (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 97000100.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453536
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.