What? Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church
Where? 939 Washington Ave.
The Story: This church is probably the oldest African American Presbyterian Church in Georgia. Its congregation formed in 1838, and they started building the first wooden structure on this site in 1869. The congregation selected the steep slope of this site intentionally, so that the new church could have a basement. That first structure was completed around 1875. In 1904, the church remodeled the structure you see today in brick. The entire remodel reportedly cost $8,000, which was paid in full upon the rededication of the building. Maconites have long associated Washington Avenue Presbyterian with its connection to influential African American civic leaders in the city, just like many of the other churches in this district.