Two feuding Savannah church groups have settled lingering legal issues years after a Savannah congregation split from the Episcopal Church in a dispute over doctrine.

The Savannah Morning News reports the two sides announced Thursday they have resolved all remaining issues in the split involving Savannah's historic Christ Church.

The breakaway congregation has fought for years for ownership of a downtown Savannah sanctuary, built in 1840.

The church was established by Georgia's colonial founders in 1733.

The agreement gives the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia both the Christ Church property and rights to the names "Christ Church, Savannah," and "the Mother church of Georgia."

The departing congregation will reincorporate as "Christ Church Anglican."

Leaders of the breakaway group say they left the Episcopal church in a disagreement about doctrine.

They are among hundreds of breakaway churches that left following the consecration of gay Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003.

Tags: Savannah, GPB News, Episcopal Church, Episcopol Diocese, Christ Church