Introducing Augusta: Sacred Heart Cultural Center

“Jesus’s disciples were fishermen.  Fishermen are often told that if their boat capsizes in a storm the safest place to be is underneath, in the protection of the hull.”  As she finished, her eyes rolled slowly Heavenward to the gray-green barrel-vaulted ceiling.   My new friend, Millie, is indeed right.  The ceiling of Sacred Heart Cultural Center resembles a weathered ship’s hull, and it has offered protection, first spiritual and later artistic, to generations of Georgians.

Built between 1897 and 1900, Sacred Heart in Augusta, Georgia was once a thriving Catholic congregation complete with a school and nuns living onsite.  The one constant in life, however, is change, and in 1971 the diocese in Augusta merged three dwindling Catholic congregations into one and shuttered two of the facilities.  Sadly, Sacred Heart was on the losing end of this arrangement and ceased to be a church in 1971.  Fortunately for 21^st Century visitors, it reopened in 1987 as Sacred Heart Cultural Center under the direction of a non-profit organization.  Today Millie Huff is the Executive Director of the 501(c )(3) that operates Sacred Heart.  Huff also serves as Chief Cheerleader for all the programs that her beloved historic structure, art gallery and event venue offers to residents and visitors. 

In pre-pandemic times, the cultural center hosted 70 private rental events each year, as well as, public concerts, rotating art exhibits, an annual garden festival and more.  Eventually, (as it becomes safe to do so) all these celebratory moments will return.  The non-profit, like most charitable endeavors, is supported by purchases made in their gift shop, through donations and with the assistance of grants.

The building itself is a magnificent example of Byzantine and Romanesque architecture with a dome that floats 98 feet above travertine marble floors.  Travelers should make time when passing through Augusta to see this stunning example of an ancient basilica design.  After all, the only other place it would be available to them is Europe.  There are 15 different styles of brickwork on the exterior.  Many of these could never be replicated today because the techniques themselves have long since died out.  It took nearly 10 years to restore the many stained-glass windows in the Great Hall (formerly the sanctuary).

Sacred Heart is the only attraction in Augusta’s historic downtown to offer an audio-tour.  The tour takes approximately 25 minutes and is well worth the $5 cost because listeners are treated to a unique mix of historical information, first-person recollections by former parishioners and quirky facts (i.e. the stained-glass window over the entry door depicts only 11 disciples at The Last Supper because the artist chose to leave Judas out entirely).

The National Historic Register-listed structure elicits awe and reverence regardless of one’s faith, as it did for Huff when she told me her fishermen story.  Indeed, even as a non-Christian, I could easily see why Huff often finds strangers knelt in prayer at the deconsecrated alter.  The cool marble floors offer respite from the Georgia heat outside, and the echoes in the cavernous space seem to carry one’s prayers directly to Heaven.

Certainly, in a year such as this has been, finding a peaceful place in the middle of a busy world is invaluable.  As an historic preservationist myself for the last 12 years, I feel a strong sense of camaraderie with Millie and her cohorts who work daily to give their town a beautiful piece of history to enjoy, while keeping up with an endless list of maintenance needs.  Perhaps our shared cultural history is our true upturned hull in the storm.  I have always said that old buildings have stories to tell us.  We just need to step through the doors and listen.

More information about Sacred Heart Cultural Center can be found on their website.