Macon, Ga. is home to churches of all denominations. One of the most iconic is Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church. The church’s spires have become an icon of the city’s skyline because they are easily seen throughout downtown. Despite its architectural details and conspicuous presence, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church is not one of the top five oldest churches in the city. The current building was constructed 64 years after Macon’s oldest church. This listicle highlights the city’s oldest churches. All of these churches are located within less than a two-mile radius of each other and surprisingly, all of the oldest churches are protestant. The list is in order from oldest to youngest.
1. Christ Church, 1825
Christ Church is an episcopal church and is the oldest church in Macon, Ga., having been founded 1825, 201 years ago. It is located on 582 Walnut St, and it is an Episcopal church. They have a church service at 8 a.m. and another church service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Services are also streamed online. They also have frequent musical performances and Evensongs that feature organ music as well as a striking Tiffany stained glass window. Christ Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and is the only church on this list that makes an appearance on the registry.
2. First Presbyterian Church, 1826
First Presbyterian Church is the second oldest church in the city. It was founded in 1826, 200 years ago. First Presbyterian is located at 682 Mulberry St. They have service at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings. It is situated in downtown Macon and is close to many of Macon’s restaurants. It is the sixth tallest building in Macon, standing at 183 feet at the top of the spire.
3. First Baptist Church of Christ, 1826
First Baptist Church of Christ was also founded in 1926. It is located on 511 High Place, just up on the hill above St. Joseph’s. Their Sunday service begins at 11 a.m. First Baptist Church is situated right next to Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church with only a brick road separating the two churches. First Baptist Church has a historical marker from the Georgia Historical Society and used to be located where the current Bibb County courthouse now resides.
4. Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1869
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1869, making it the fourth oldest church in Macon. It is located at 719 College St. Their Sunday service takes place at 10 a.m. They offer virtual worship and even a Spanish worship service on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. A former children’s home is now a part of the church’s campus.
5. Centenary United Methodist Church, 1884
Centenary United Methodist Church was founded in 1884 and is the fifth oldest church in Macon. It is located at 1290 College St and is across the street from Tatnall Square Park. Their Sunday service begins at 11 AM. They pride themselves on being modernized and accepting anyone, no matter their background. Centenary has a stained-glass cross located inside of the church that was donated in 2009 in celebration of the church’s 125th anniversary.
