Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, Savannah

Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church traces its origins to Savannah’s first Methodist congregation, established in 1807 at the corner of Lincoln and Oglethorpe streets. The congregation later acquired land on Telfair Square, where they built Trinity Church. When the original Wesley Chapel closed, its members joined the Trinity congregation.

As the number of worshipers increased, plans were made for a larger sanctuary. Completed in 1890, the present church was designed as a memorial to John and Charles Wesley, the brothers who played central roles in the founding and development of Methodism. Both men had close connections with Savannah during the early years of the Georgia colony.

Pause to examine the church’s Gothic Revival architecture. Tall pointed windows, slender spires, and strong vertical lines draw the eye upward, as the sanctuary rises to a height of 43 feet. Inside, stained-glass memorial windows honor important figures from Methodist history. Another notable feature is the large Gothic-style pipe organ, built by the Noack Organ Company.

The building narrowly escaped serious damage from fires in 1946 and again in 1953. Fortunately, a steel ceiling installed above the sanctuary in 1902 helped protect the interior.

Today, Wesley Monumental remains an active place of worship and a lasting tribute to the Wesley brothers and Savannah’s long Methodist heritage.