Built 1859 NRHP Reference # 75000589 Area 4,000 m² | Architect Father Thomas O'Reilly Opened 1859 Added to NRHP 1 April 1975 | |
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Location 313 Residence AvenueAlbany, Georgia Similar John A Davis House, Albany Municipal Auditorium, Thronateeska Heritage Center, Albany Civic Center, Chehaw Park | ||
Old St. Teresa Church is located in downtown Albany, Georgia on Residence Ave. It is the oldest church building in Albany, and the oldest Catholic Church still in use in Georgia. The name Old St. Teresa Catholic Church was given, because it changed to a new location in Albany. The church was kept in use and at least one mass is a held every week.
Contents
History
Construction on the church began in 1859, on land that was given by Col. Nelson Tift, the founder of Albany. The bricks that make up the building were handmade by slaves on a plantation near Newton, Georgia. Due to the Civil War, construction of the church was halted before the interior was completed. It was then used as a hospital for wounded Confederate Soldiers. After the war, the building was completed and dedicated under the patronage of St. Teresa of Avila on November 19, 1882 by William ll. Gross, D.D., who was the Bishop of Savannah at the time. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Currently
A new larger parish church was dedicated into use in 1958, but the downtown location was kept as a second church. A Mass is conducted every Wednesday at noon at the Residence Ave. address.