First Baptist Church (Columbia, South Carolina)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

First Baptist Church
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
HABS, 1960
Location:	1306 Hampton St., Columbia, South Carolina
Coordinates:	34°0′19.97″N 81°2′0.03″W / 34.0055472, -81.0333417Coordinates: 34°0′19.97″N 81°2′0.03″W / 34.0055472, -81.0333417
Built/Founded:	1856
Architect:	Unknown
Architectural style(s):	Greek Revival
Designated as NHL:	November 7, 1973[1]
Added to NRHP:	January 25, 1971[2]
NRHP Reference#:	71000800
Governing body:	Private

The First Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina is a Greek Revival building built in 1856. A convention met here on December 17, 1860 which voted unanimously for South Carolina to secede from the United States, leading to the American Civil War.

Contents 1 History 2 Building description 3 References 4 External links

[edit] History

The First Baptist Church of Columbia was first organized in 1809, with the building of the first church building, located on Sumter Street, in 1811.^[3]

The second and current First Baptist Church was built in 1859 by an unknown architect. Its construction was funded by James P. Boyce, a former president of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary.^[4]

The following year, in 1860, the Church was the site of the first state convention to discuss secession following the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. It was chosen as it was the largest meeting place in Columbia.^[5] Under the chairmanship of D. F. Jamison, a unanimous vote, 159-0, in favor of secession on December 17, 1860 led to South Carolina seceding from the United States; it would be the only such convention whose vote to secede was unanimous. Six other states would follow South Carolina's lead before the Battle of Fort Sumter; some felt if they did not now secede, they might lose the argument that a state had the right to secede; a right that has never been confirmed or denied by a court of law.^[6]

This convention lasted only one day, as Columbia was currently experiencing an outbreak of smallpox. South Carolina's Order of Secession would not be signed until the delegates at this convention reconvened at Charleston, South Carolina on December 20; Columbia's little First Baptist Church was where the power brokers of South Carolina first declared that the state would secede.^[6]

When the Northern Army invaded Columbia, they set fire the original First Baptist Church building, thinking it was the site of secession convention. The invaders were commit arson on a third of Columbia's buildings, but the actual First Baptist Church was spared.^[7]

It is currently an active church, and for fifty years has televised its services.^[8]

[edit] Building description

The First Baptist Church is built in Greek Revival style. Originally, the building was 56 feet wide and 84 feet long. It has molded brick Tuscan portico and Tuscan pilasters along the sides. There is a balcony on each side and above the entrance. Around 1900 the bricks were painted a dirty brown. In 1941 the church was given air conditioning and was extended 35 feet, with its rear wall moved, giving a place for the choir and a baptistery. In 1949 fifteen foot side aisles were placed, with steel columns made in Doric style to reinforced and match the old architecture. It was also in 1949 that the dirty brown paint of the brick walls was removed, but in the process the walls were now ranging in color from dark pink to light tan.^[9][6]

The original (1859) church was 84 feet deep by 56 feet wide.^[10]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971,^[2] and further was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.^[1][6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• First Baptist Church, Columbia, SC (official site)
• First Baptist Church, Richland County (1306 Hampton St., Columbia), at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
• First Baptist Church, Hampton Street, Columbia, Richland County, SC: 6 photos, at Historic American Building Survey.

v • d • e U.S. National Register of Historic Places Keeper of the Register · History of the National Register of Historic Places · Property types · Historic district · Contributing property List of entries National Park Service · National Historic Landmarks · National Battlefields · National Historic Sites · National Historical Parks · National Memorials · National Monuments