Roof & Water Infiltration
Priority 1
Roof covering, flashing, and gutters must be repaired to stop water entering the structure — the single greatest threat to the building.
Historic Preservation
Preserving a Waycross landmark
The St. John sanctuary is a rare surviving example of an African American church building at the center of a Georgia city's history. Keeping it standing is our generation's charge.
Significance
Why this church matters
Church buildings like this one are among the most significant surviving structures of African American life in the South. They were built with congregational labor and sacrifice at a time when Black communities were denied nearly every other public institution.
Within these brick walls, generations were baptized, married, taught to read, organized, mourned, and encouraged. The building itself is evidence — of skill, endurance, faith, and civic leadership in Waycross and Ware County.
When a building like this is lost, the physical record of that history is lost with it.
The Building
Architecture & construction
- Load-bearing red brick masonry construction with corbelled detailing
- Prominent square entrance tower with belfry openings
- Round-arch (Romanesque-influenced) windows along the nave with fanlight transoms
- Elevated sanctuary above a raised basement level used for fellowship and classes
- Original wood sanctuary interior with gallery seating and pulpit platform
- Adjoining fellowship building serving education and community programs
Send the construction date, builder, architect (if known), and any National Register or state historic survey documentation, and this section becomes a citable building history.
Condition
Documented preservation needs
Masonry & Mortar
Priority 1
Repointing with historically appropriate mortar and stabilization of cracked or spalled brick.
Windows
Priority 2
Restoration of the arched window sash, glazing, and painted wood frames.
Foundation & Drainage
Priority 2
Site grading and drainage improvements to move water away from the walls.
Electrical, HVAC & Safety
Priority 3
Systems upgrades to serve worship and community use safely and efficiently.
Accessibility
Priority 3
Preserving historic character while ensuring the sanctuary is usable by all members.
A professional conditions assessment with cost estimates will replace these placeholder priorities — send it when it's complete and we'll publish the figures.
The Project
Our plan, in phases
Phase One
Documentation & assessment
Historic research, photographic documentation, oral histories, and a professional conditions assessment with cost estimates.
Phase Two
Stabilization
Roof, masonry, and drainage work to make the building weather-tight and structurally sound.
Phase Three
Restoration
Windows, interior finishes, and systems restored with respect for original materials and craftsmanship.
Phase Four
Interpretation & stewardship
A permanent church archive, interpretive materials for visitors, and an endowment for long-term maintenance.
Archive
Historic photographs & documents
Original construction-era photograph
Historic interior of the sanctuary
Church deed or cornerstone record
Anniversary program
Newspaper coverage
Current conditions survey
Support
Support the preservation effort
Gifts to the St. John Historic Preservation Fund go directly to stabilizing and restoring the sanctuary. Individual gifts, congregational offerings, foundation grants, and in-kind professional services are all welcome.
Foundations, preservation organizations, and historians: we would be glad to provide documentation, arrange a site visit, or collaborate on a nomination or grant application. Contact us at info@stjohnmbcwaycross.org or (912) 285-5904.