First African Baptist Church

The beauty of history is how it encompasses the passing down of information from the perspective of various cultures. Especially, when it bares witness to the beauty of the times of the determination, struggle, and resilience of one group as well
as the menacing, unrelenting and abhorrent treatment by another group upon indentured servitude barers.
Yet, the knowledge of how "The Church" brought an uncannily togetherness, forgiveness and freedom through its diverse people was brought to light with generations of stories. Today, Associate Pastor Derek Curry provided a long-standing historical perspective of the First African Baptist Church (FABC) through his ability to informally yet informatively present the church's journey from 1773 to present day.

I enjoyed how he playfully yet respectfully interacted and engaged with the audience. Imparting knowledge on the church's history through slavery, the diversity of its parishioners including descendants of Africa, Spain, Portugal, Britain, etc. to a journey through time, during the darkest blemish in America's history, slavery. However, his recanting of how the FABC transcended through the times were at times mesmerizing
and other times mouth-opening. Yet, his delivery made you feel a sense of the times and the many pastors that made FABC, one of the leading forces during the Underground Railroad and beyond.

I think a trip to Savannah without this being a part of your knowledge tour, would be a let down as this church has real history to be shared and told in a manner of honor and pride.

Good work Pastor Curry. I am hopeful the pews will fill again soon with members as well as from people from around the globe. The stories of African Americans need to be shared and lauded as those stories are a huge part of the inception of this country, good, bad and all the in between....

I'm really disappointed that I was not able to tour the church.

On their website, it says that the tour will be at 3pm today. When I got to the door of the church, a piece of paper said the tour was at 1pm. I planned my whole day around this 3pm tour and bought a ticket which I hope to be reimbursed for. There were also about 10 other people trying to figure out how to enter the church but all the doors were locked.

They need to ensure the information for their tour is correct, especially for people visiting this city that may only have once chance to stop by.

Another stop on our self-guided history tour was the First African Baptist Church of Savannah. This church's history runs DEEP in this country which dates back to the Underground Railroad era and Harriet Tubman. This was one of the many stops en route to the freedom found in the north for many slaves. There are still portions of the church wood floor that have pencil-width holes in it that served for breathing holes for slaves as they waited underground to continue their treacherous trip to freedom. Needless to say, another highly emotional place for me. Tours are not often but do happen so call ahead. This building tells so many stories from generations ago as it stands silent and strong in the heart of Savannah Georgia. A must-see!

This was an extremely informative and well done tour. The guide was clearly knowledgeable about the history of the church and related it in an interesting way. I highly recommend it.

Historic First Black Church in America. Savannah is awesome, and pastor Tillman a Gift from God. Fortunate to have been there on Easter Sunday!

My sisters and I four black professional females were visiting from Florida we attempted to visit the First African Baptist Church on Montgomery Street we were told by two staff members that the Church was closed due to pandemic. While sitting in the park across the street we saw a tour group of about 30 to 40 white people being greeted and welcomed into the Church. Once the two staff members saw us seeing what they were doing they called to us from across the street and said we can come in and sit in the back of the Church until the tour group finish.

This is our second attempt to tour this Church and we will not come back.
This was the ultimate insult to us as black people.

Fantastic experience!! Highly recommend taking the tour. Best tour in Savannah. The assistant pastor was informative and engaging in fun interactive, educational way. I learned so much and so grateful that we were able to fit it in on our last day. Make sure to look up when the tours are scheduled. They do not have them every day. I bought my ticket at the door and was credit card only. You can buy online.

There are generally two tours a day of the First African Baptist Church, being at 11:00 and at 2:00 and I strongly urge everyone to take the tour. If you don't your simply going to miss it all. On my tour I learned a lot of historical facts I was never taught and never had any knowledge about.

As a structure it's one of the sturdiest I've ever come across and easy to see how it has withstood the storms and time. It was construct mostly by slaves but also by some freemen. The 1832 organ is still there, the ceiling in the design of a "Nine Patch Quilt" and various inscriptions on the ends of the pews written in "Cursive Hebrew" along with holes in the floor symbolizing a "Flash of the Spirits" in what is known as "Congolese Cosmogram."

There is also a subfloor which is historically of interest as a part of the "Underground Railway."

With all I leaned and all I discovered that I didn't know, I have to go Five Stars. It really is one of the very best of church tours.

I am new to this area, and once I heard of the First African Baptist Church nearby, what better day to explore than Juneteenth?! The tour was led by an intelligent and comical man named Joe. He appeared to be very passionate about what he does for the church and teaching the history. The tour was very touching to know I was sitting in the same building that was used as a passage in the Underground Railroad. I can't wait to visit again. Highly recommend you go

Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the history and impact of the original Black church from engaging and knowledgeable guides. Bonus: the cost of admission supports the church's nonprofit work building a stronger and more resilient community!