The study is dedicated to the church architecture of South of Russia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. South Russia represents one of the most multi-ethnic and culturally and religiously complex regions of Russia. National character thus occupies a central tendency of its church architecture. Through exploring the evolution of Orthodox church construction in the 19th to early 20th centuries, the study presents evidence of how the national expression in church architecture of South Russia developed. Both preserved and lost churches within the administrative boundaries of the Southern Federal District are considered in the study. The study builds on the theoretical basis of in-depth research on the topic, including in articles and monographs by: Borisova E. A., Kirichenko E. I., Prutsyn O. I., Slavina T. A., Shenkov A. S., Lisovsky V. The study expands existing scholarship through a detailed description of religious objects and focuses on "style" and influences. The investigation of influences on the national tendency of the church architecture of South Russia in the chosen period contributes additional material to the understanding of a difficult period in the history of Russian architecture. The question of national tendencies in architecture has received renewed interest from architects, primarily from those who work in the domain of church architecture. This makes the study’s contribution timely. Research methodology included the analysis of theoretical works and archival material. The study includes historical and contemporary illustrations collected by the author during field trips around the region