Old St. Teresa Catholic Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old St. Teresa's Catholic Church
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 313 Residence Avenue Albany, Georgia |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1859 |
| Architect | Father Thomas O'Reilly |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000589 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1975 |
Old St. Teresa's Catholic Church is a historic building in downtown Albany, Georgia. You can find it on Residence Avenue. It is the oldest church building still standing in Albany. It's called "Old St. Teresa's" because the church later moved to a new, bigger building in Albany. Even after the move, this old church building is still used, with at least one church service held there each week.
Contents
History of the Church
Building the Church
Building the church started in 1859. The land was a gift from Colonel Nelson Tift, who founded the city of Albany. The bricks for the church were made by hand by workers who were forced to labor on a plantation near Newton, Georgia.
Civil War and Completion
The American Civil War (1861-1865) stopped the building work before the inside was finished. During the war, the unfinished church became a hospital for injured soldiers. After the war ended, the building was finally completed. It was officially dedicated on November 19, 1882. The church was named after St. Teresa of Ávila. William Hickley Gross, who was the Bishop of Savannah, led the dedication ceremony.
A Historic Landmark
In 1975, Old St. Teresa's Catholic Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
The Church Today
A Second Church Location
A new, larger church building for the parish was opened in 1958. However, the original downtown location was kept as a second church. This means the community has two places to worship.
Weekly Services
Today, a church service is held every Wednesday at noon at the Old St. Teresa's location on Residence Avenue. It continues to be an active part of the community.
