Christ Church, Frederica & Cemetery Master Plan
Project Description + Challenge
Planning a Sacred Campus
Christ Church is set in the towering live oak canopy of a coastal barrier island in southern Georgia. The church grounds include a cemetery dating from 1796. Christ Church, one of the oldest churches in the southeast, was founded on St. Simons Island in conjunction with the adjacent Fort Frederica. The first church building was constructed in 1820 on the same site as the current 1884 sanctuary. The parish also includes St. Ignatius Church, built in 1886 by former slaves on St. Simons Island. Marquis Latimer + Halback, Inc. worked with parishioners and clergy members to create a campus master plan for the next century.
Our Solution
The final design seeks to provide for the growth of a healthy parish while celebrating the rich and dynamic history of one of the most iconic churches in all of the Golden Isles. Frederica Road will be relocated to add a safer pedestrian connection from the organized parking area. A new sanctuary and parish hall building will add needed space for member growth, allowing the 1884 chapel to remain a historic parish treasure. New circulation paths meander through the existing historic cemetery, while larger elements, such as an outdoor events pavilion and multipurpose fields add to parish life and community outreach.