Unitarian Universalist Church (Savannah, Georgia)

Unitarian Universalist Church
"Jingle Bells" Church
Map
32°04′21″N 81°05′24″W / 32.0726°N 81.0899°W / 32.0726; -81.0899
Location325 Habersham Street, Troup Square, Savannah, Georgia
CountryUnited States
DenominationUnitarian Universalist
WebsiteOfficial website
History
Statusopen
Founder(s)Moses Eastman
Architecture
Functional statusused
Architect(s)John S. Norris
Years built1851
Clergy
Minister(s)David Messner[1]

The Unitarian Universalist Church is a historic church at 325 Habersham Street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the northwestern civic block of Troup Square.[1] It was designed by noted architect John S. Norris in 1851[2] and built with funds left in his will by Moses Eastman, a local silversmith and councillor.[3]

The Christmas carol "Jingle Bells" was written by the church's music director James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893),[4] supposedly while living in Savannah.[5][1] The city of Medford, Massachusetts, also claims that the song was written there in 1850, but it has been proven that Pierpont had moved to the west coast to partake in the California Gold Rush at that point. What is known is that he copyrighted the song, with the name "The One Horse Open Sleigh", on September 16, 1857,[6] while he was living in Savannah.[5]

The church was physically moved from Oglethorpe Square to the western side of Troup Square, a distance of a third of a mile, in 1860.[1]

  • Historical marker in Savannah, Georgia
    Historical marker in Savannah, Georgia

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Savannah Unitarian Universalist Church celebrates ‘Jingle Bells’ at annual festival" – Savannah Morning News, December 24, 2017
  2. ^ "Life & Architecture of John S Norris" – GoSouthSavannah.com
  3. ^ Savannah in the Old South, Walter J. Fraser (2003), p. 196
  4. ^ "James Lord Pierpont and the mystery of 'Jingle Bells'" – UUWorld.org, December 15, 2014
  5. ^ a b "Was ‘Jingle Bells’ actually written in Savannah? Local historian discusses popular holiday song’s origins" – WSAV, December 25, 2020
  6. ^ Pierpont, J. (September 16, 1857). "One Horse Open Sleigh". Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co. Retrieved December 26, 2006.


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