First African Baptist Church (Savannah, Ga.)

George Liele, a slave preacher who ministered along the Savannah River, formed the First African Baptist congregation sometime in the early 1770s. During the Revolutionary War, Liele left the United States and appointed Andrew Bryan, also a slave, to lead the church. Bryan built the first church in 1795. In 1833 a division split the congregation into the Bryant Church and the First African Baptist. The present structure of the First African Baptist Church at Franklin Square was erected in 1859.

From the description of First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia records, 1871-1981. (College of Charleston). WorldCat record id: 133148322

The First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia was formed by Reverend George Liele in the late 1770's. A plantation owner, Andrew Bryan, organized a congregation of baptized slaves into the first black missionary Baptist Church in 1788. The First African Baptist Church was admitted into the Georgia Baptist Association in 1790.

In 1793 Bryan sold property to the church; this lot is said to be the oldest piece of real estate owned continuously by black people in the United States. Andrew Cox Marshall, nephew of Bryan, was named pastor of First African Baptist Church in 1812. A schism occurred in 1832 when Marshall allowed a white minister advocating a new faith to preach at First African Baptist Church. The association of Georgia Baptist churches dissolved its association with the church. The majority of the congregation favored Marshall's ideas, and moved to a new location. Other members remained at the original site, which later became First Bryan Baptist Church. A dispute about which church could lay claim to being the oldest African-American church organized in Georgia was settled in 1888 by the State Missionary Baptist Connection of Georgia resulting in favor of the First African Baptist Church over First Bryan Baptist Church. The present building of the church was erected in 1859, by members who at that time were slaves.

From the description of First African Baptist Church (Savannah, Ga.) records, 1873-1977. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122378580

First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia is said to have been officially “born” on May 20, 1775, the day Rev. George Liele was ordained. Liele, who had obtained his freedom on August 7, 1777, noted in a covenant that the church began in December 1777. In 1782 or 1783, before leaving for Jamaica, West Indies, he baptized slaves on the Brampton plantation owned by Jonathan Bryan. One of these newly baptized, Andrew Bryan, then organized the congregation into the first black missionary Baptist Church on January 20, 1788. Two years later, in May 1790, the First African Baptist Church was admitted into the Georgia Baptist Association.

On September 4, 1793 Andrew Bryan secured a lot on West Bryan Street which he sold to the church. This lot is said to be the oldest piece of real estate owned continuously by black people in the United States.

Andrew Cox Marshall, nephew of Bryan, was named pastor of First African Baptist Church in 1812. He later purchased property on Franklin Square for a larger church to accommodate the growing congregation.

A schism occurred in 1832 when Marshall allowed a white minister advocating a new faith to preach at First African Baptist Church. The matter came before the association of Georgia Baptist churches, known as the Sunbury Association, in November of that year and the church was condemned and its membership with the Association dissolved. Subsequently, the majority of the congregation (2,640 members) sided with Marshall and moved to the new location on Franklin Square. About one hundred fifty-five members, under Deacon Adam Johnson, remained at the original site which later became First Bryan Baptist Church.

The dispute about which church could lay claim to being the oldest African-American church organized in the state was brought to the State Missionary Baptist Connection of Georgia in 1888. The question was referred to a committee which presented a unanimous report in favor of the First African Baptist Church over First Bryan Baptist Church.

The present building of First African Baptist Church was erected in 1859 by the members, who at the time were slaves. The first black Sunday school in North America was established in 1826 at this church.

From the guide to the First African Baptist Church (Savannah, Ga.) records, 1873-1977, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)