Reynolds Square

Reynolds Square is part of the square located in Savannah; the squares were planned by James Oglethorpe who called for six wards and squares. These squares are part of the two new squares which now complete the squares in Savannah.

This square was laid out in 1734 and later named for Capt. John Reynolds who was the unpopular governor of Georgia in the mid 1750s. It is said that a celebration was held when he arrived in Savannah, yet an even bigger celebration was held when he left the colony.

A bronze statue stands on the square which honors John Wesley who was the founder of Methodism, he undertook a mission in Savannah in which he founded the first Sunday school in America. The statue stands in the spot where it is believed that his home once stood. The intent of the statue is to show Wesley preaching out-of-doors just like he used to when he was leading a service for Native Americans this was a practice that angered church elders as they believed that preaching should have only been done inside the church.

Reynolds Square is located on Abercorn, between Bryan and Congress Streets and was the site of the Filature, when an attempt to establish a silk industry in Georgia was started here and housed silkworms at this site, the attempt failed.