St. Marys was first established in the mid 1500's by the French, Spanish and Native Americans. The English settled in St. Marys in 1787. The main thoroughfare is Osborne Street, shaded by giant oak and palm trees. White picket fences surround many of the historic landmarks. Flowered walkways invite you to come sit down and rock "for a spell" on one of the many sea-breezed verandahs. Gift and antique shops housed in turn-of-the-century buildings offer hours of browsing. Delicious fresh seafood and other excellent southern cuisine can be found in the restaurants of St. Marys. There are a number of historic hotels, bed and breakfasts, and locally owned family hotels if you feel like sticking around for a while. I know I sure did. My thanks to everyone in the Photography Forum who offered me advice on how to postwork this photo. In the end, I decided to go for the "postcard" look. I ramped up the colors, added a sky (it was just overcast haze before), cropped out some of the details on the sides and generally gave it a good overhaul. ----- The Presbyterian Church The First Presbyterian Church of St. Marys is the oldest Presbyterian church building in the state of Georgia and the second oldest church in Georgia. It is also the oldest building in Georgia that has been in continuous use as a church since its erection in 1808 and has the honor of being the most photographed building in town (though not from this angle). The form of church government provides the name for the Presbyterian Church. The word presbyter (from the Greek presbuteros) means "elder." Presbyterian congregations elect elders to serve on the session, or governing body, of a particular church. The pastor of a congregation serves as the moderator of its session and conducts its meetings. Individual churches in turn are organized into presbyteries, based on geographic area. Presbyterians are part of the Calvinist theological tradition, which includes an emphasis upon predestination as found in the theology of John Calvin, a sixteenth-century French theologian who believed that God elects those who are "predestined" to salvation and that this election is not influenced by human efforts. Calvinist churches on the continent of Europe are called Reformed churches (for example, Dutch Reformed), while those originating in Scotland, England, and Ireland are called Presbyterian. Reformed and Presbyterian churches are found around the world and number more than 70 million communicants. Distinctive beliefs include an emphasis upon the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of election (spiritual predestination). When Georgia was founded as a colony in 1733, individual Presbyterians were among the first arrivals. Highland Scottish troops, recruited by General James Oglethorpe to fight the Spanish in Florida, were the first group of Presbyterians to arrive in Georgia. They established the town of Darien between Savannah and Fort Frederica. By the mid-1700s Presbyterian churches had been established in the state. Presbyterians in Georgia, as elsewhere, participated heavily on the patriot side in the American Revolution (1775-83). Afterwards, Presbyterians were active on the Georgia frontier. A number of Presbyterian ministers were missionaries to Native Americans, including the Cherokees, whom several Presbyterian ministers accompanied on the Trail of Tears. ----- Thank you for your Doric comments on my last upload, St. Marys III - Orange Hall.

----- Olympus C-8080WZ & PhotoshopCS. (629)