directory configuration problem

[Duncan Lithgow]

Yes, it's been asked a million times, still I couldn't find it in the 
docs or with google.

I've installed apache, and need to make /var/www writeable by myself. I 
made a new group called 'server' and made myself a member of the group. 
Then as root I changed the group of /var/www from 'root' to 'server'. I 
thought I'd then be able to drop all my files in (which, of course I 
already have permission to write to) and go for it. Nope.

So, how should I have done this?

Duncan