Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church, originally established in 1838 as Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, was the sixth Episcopal parish in Georgia and is home to the state’s second-oldest Episcopal church building. Its story is intertwined with the early history of Clarkesville, which became North Georgia’s first major resort town in the early 1800s. Wealthy families from Savannah, Charleston, and the Lowcountry came here each summer to escape yellow fever and other coastal diseases, often bringing their enslaved “servants” and staying for months.

Most of these seasonal residents were Presbyterian or Episcopalian. While Clarkesville’s Presbyterian congregation formed in 1832, many worshiped with Episcopalians until their own church was completed in 1849. Grace Episcopal was founded partly to increase the number of parishes in Georgia so the state could have its own bishop rather than being overseen from South Carolina.

An acre for the church was purchased in 1839, and $1,335 was raised for construction. Lawsuits and drought delayed the work, but the Greek Revival sanctuary—complete with tall columns, a portico, and original box pews—was eventually completed. The tall windows retain much of their original glass, shipped from Augusta or Athens, and the gallery once seated the enslaved house servants of summer visitors. One of Grace-Calvary’s greatest treasures is its 1848 Henry Erben pipe organ, the oldest working organ in Georgia. Built in New York City, it arrived in pieces and proved one foot too tall, prompting the creation of a pit in the gallery. It was fully restored in 1988 and is still played every Sunday.

The church was built under the supervision of Jarvis Van Buren, a railroad man who had come to Clarkesville from New York to run an iron works company. He was hired to build the church for the handsome sum of $1,335 and the church was consecrated in 1842. Mr. Van Buren was a cousin of President Martin Van Buren. He also was an intellectual with a keen eye, engineering experience and urban point of view that came with his background and ‘Yankee’ experience. This sanctuary was originally built to be a church home predominantly for the ‘summer folk’. From the beginning, Grace Episcopal was blessed with the support of that unusually wealthy and sophisticated congregation. Its construction quality, materials and design fit and finish reflect that blessing.

The church’s high pulpit reflects a time when Southern Episcopal congregations emphasized preaching over frequent Eucharist, which was typically celebrated only once a month. Today, Grace-Calvary stands virtually unchanged from its original construction—its architecture, historic furnishings, and remarkable organ make it not only a treasured landmark for Clarkesville, but also one of Georgia’s most historically significant churches. The black walnut pipe organ was built for the church by Henry Erben of New York City in 1848. It is one of the church’s greatest treasures and reputed to be the oldest working pipe organ in Georgia.