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Some of you who keep up with my blog posts will remember that earlier this year I embarked on a road trip to scout out possible retirement locations.<\/strong><\/p>\n The last possible retirement city that my friend and I visited was St. Marys, Georgia (USA). When we were still in South Carolina, we met a lady who had moved to St. Marys and insisted that we check out that area.<\/strong><\/p>\n Walking around the historic riverfront area we found friendly people, dog friendly establishments and many restored homes and inns.<\/strong><\/p>\n Although I photographed several churches, my favorite was the First Presbyterian Church.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The church was built in 1808. It is the second oldest church in the state of Georgia and the state\u2019s oldest building in continuous use as a church. The first pastor was ordained and installed in June 1822.<\/strong><\/p>\n On December 20, 1828, the church was incorporated under the name of the Independent Presbyterian Church of St. Marys.<\/strong><\/p>\n On December 5, 1832, The Independent Church was incorporated as the First Presbyterian Church of St. Marys in the Georgia Presbytery.<\/strong><\/p>\n A photograph inside the building shows a flat front to the church with the stairs angled down to the left side. A plaque on the photograph states that the picture was taken prior to 1898. A little research found that the photograph was actually showing a back entrance to a gallery for the enslaved.<\/strong><\/p>\n In December 1956, a fire destroyed the original east side entrance. The church was restored with wood as old as the original church and rededicated within a few months of the fire. <\/strong><\/p>\n Today the First Presbyterian Church of St. Marys, Georgia is admired both for its architecture and its members’ determination and faith to preserve the building for future parishioners. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Interestingly, the lady who first insisted we check out St. Marys is a member of this church and I spoke with her briefly as she left service the Sunday morning that I was taking photographs of the church.<\/strong><\/p>\n I look forward to a return trip to this charming city in the near future to introduce my husband to this city as a possible retirement location. We will be driving past this historic structure as we slowly cruise into town.<\/strong><\/p>\n