Tag Archives: Churches of Sumter County GA

A historical marker recently placed by Cavalry Episcopal & the Georgia Historical Society gives insight to the story of this beautiful church: Calvary Episcopal Church was organized in 1864 as a second effort to found an Episcopal parish in Americus.  The cornerstone for the original wood-framed church was laid here in 1869.  The current building was completed in 1921 under the leadership of Rev. James Bolan Lawrence and renowned architect Ralph Adams Cram.  Cram is primarily known for his Gothic designs in college campuses and churches nationwide, including the Princeton University Chapel and New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  Rev. Lawrence founded churches in Pennington, Vienna, Cordele, and Blakely, and also established congregations in Cuthbert, Dawson, and Benevolence.  Rev. Lawrence served the Calvary parish from 1905-1947.  Because of his dedication to evangelism and church planting in Southwest Georgia, Rev. Lawrence was recognized as a saint in Georgia by the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia in 1999.

Due to threats from the proposed demolition of the Lee Street Bridge and a new larger bridge project, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation placed this church, as well as other nearby historic properties, on their 2017 Places in Peril list.

Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places