A community matriarch leads the fight to preserve her heritage, church and community’s history in Savannah, GA.
A documentary feature film directed by Caroline Josey Karoki.
First Bryan Baptist Church and Yamacraw Village
Seven Acres and a Church is a gripping and urgent call to action following Ms. Georgia Benton, a community matriarch, as she leads the fight to preserve First Bryan Baptist Church—the oldest continuous Black Baptist church in America—and the heart of her Yamacraw community. Yamacraw Village, the predominantly Black, low-income neighborhood surrounding the church, is slated for demolition after decades of systemic neglect. The historic congregation fears the destruction and subsequent erasure of the church. “My fear is, they will pin us in till we die,” warns Pastor Pittman, the twentieth pastor in the church’s 237 years. This documentary unpacks the high-stakes battle for faith, heritage, and survival, revealing the devastating consequences of erasure and the resilience of a community refusing to be forgotten.
Constituted in 1788, First Bryan still holds cultural and historical significance in the community. It has been a safe haven for the Black community since its founding. It has provided a place to worship as a community during slavery. Generationally, its congregants continue to shape history. The congregation persevered and maintained their faith and community ties. The church itself is the first and longest-owned property by Blacks in Georgia. Church deacons, pastors Garrison Frazier and Ulysses L. Houston were part of 20 community leaders that met with Sherman to conceive the idea behind “40 Acres and A Mule”. Civil Rights activist W.W. Law taught Sunday school there. Its members represent individuals that fought for integration in schools, the first fire chiefs, judges and more. First Bryan embodies the rich cultural heritage of African Americans in Savannah and the broader region.
