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First Baptist Church (Columbia, South Carolina)
Encyclopedia
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
.
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
.
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 because it was the largest meeting place in Columbia. Under the chairmanship of D. F. Jamison, a unanimous vote of 159-0 in favor of secession on December 17, 1860 led to South Carolina seceding from the United States; it was the only such convention where the 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.
This convention lasted only one day, as Columbia was then 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.
When the Northern Army invaded Columbia, they set fire to the Washington Street Methodist Church, South, building, led by the black First Baptist sexton to think that it was the site of the secession convention. The invaders burned a third of Columbia's buildings, but the actual First Baptist Church was spared.
Until 1992, the actual building itself was used for services, which have been televised. The actual church itself is still used for other activities such as offices and a coffee shop connected to the church, but services in 1992 moved to a new building that is connected to the historic building as part of a building project that includes the new sanctuary and the Estep Family Life Centre.
The First Baptist Church is built in Greek Revival style. Originally, the building was 56 feet (17.1 m) wide and 84 feet (25.6 m) long. It has molded brick Tuscan portico
and Tuscan pilaster
s 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 (10.7 m), 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.
The original (1859) church was 84 feet (25.6 m) deep by 56 feet (17.1 m) wide.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and became a National Historic Landmark
in 1973.
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
is a Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
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
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
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.The second and current First Baptist Church was built in 1859 by an unknown architect. Its construction was funded by James P. Boyce
James Petigru Boyce
James Petigru Boyce served as a Southern Baptist pastor, theologian, author, and seminary professor.- Education and early life :Boyce was educated at Brown University under Francis Wayland, whose evangelical sermons contributed to Boyce’s conversion, and at Princeton Theological Seminary under...
, a former president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
.
The following year, in 1860, the Church was the site of the first state convention to discuss secession following the election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
as President of the United States. It was chosen because it was the largest meeting place in Columbia. Under the chairmanship of D. F. Jamison, a unanimous vote of 159-0 in favor of secession on December 17, 1860 led to South Carolina seceding from the United States; it was the only such convention where the vote to secede was unanimous. Six other states would follow South Carolina's lead before the Battle of Fort Sumter
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, that started the American Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the U.S. Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. On...
; 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.
This convention lasted only one day, as Columbia was then experiencing an outbreak of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. South Carolina's Order of Secession would not be signed until the delegates at this convention reconvened at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
on December 20; Columbia's little First Baptist Church was where the power brokers of South Carolina first declared that the state would secede.
When the Northern Army invaded Columbia, they set fire to the Washington Street Methodist Church, South, building, led by the black First Baptist sexton to think that it was the site of the secession convention. The invaders burned a third of Columbia's buildings, but the actual First Baptist Church was spared.
Until 1992, the actual building itself was used for services, which have been televised. The actual church itself is still used for other activities such as offices and a coffee shop connected to the church, but services in 1992 moved to a new building that is connected to the historic building as part of a building project that includes the new sanctuary and the Estep Family Life Centre.
Building description
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
and Tuscan pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s 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 (10.7 m), with its rear wall moved, giving a place for the choir and a baptistery
Baptistery
In Christian architecture the baptistry or baptistery is the separate centrally-planned structure surrounding the baptismal font. The baptistry may be incorporated within the body of a church or cathedral and be provided with an altar as a chapel...
. 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
Pink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
to light tan.
The original (1859) church was 84 feet (25.6 m) deep by 56 feet (17.1 m) wide.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and became a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1973.
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.