Beaufort Baptist Church, 600 Charles Street, Beaufort

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architectural features. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Original and Subsequent Owners: Baptist Church Congregation. B. Date of Erection: (date on cornerstone). C. Builder: Richard Fuller. D. Notes on Alterations and Additions: Extensive repairs, addition of belfry and spire to tower, very recent. E. Sources of Information: South Carolina, in American Guide Series (New York: Oxford University Press, Information supplied "by Mr. and Howard E. Danner, Beaufort, South Carolina. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement; 1. Architectural interest and merit: A representative mid-nineteenth century Baptist Church plan with unusu- ally fine Greek Revival plaster ornamentation. 2. Condition of fabric: Excellent; extensive repairs have been made in recent years, B.

Detailed Description of Exterior: 1. Number of stories: Single tier of windows gives the appearance of one story. BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. (Page 2) 2. Number of bays: Six bays In length. 3. Over-all dimensions: About 5V x the auditorium is 52' wide by 60' long. 4. Layout shape: Rectangular, facing east. 5. Foundations: Stucco on brick; water table. 6. Wall construction: Stucco on brick, white in color. Wall treatment of full-height Doric pilasters; capitals have two successive echinus moldings. No base. 7. Structural system: Load-bearing brick walls. 8. Porches: On the east front is a recessed portico of three narrow bays flanked by a bsy with pilasters on each side. Two plain stucco Greek Doric columns are placed in antis, about 25' In height.

Flooring is of flagstones but the columns rest on sandstone blocks. A low wide flight of modern concrete steps leads up from sidewalk level. Three doorways lead to the inte- rior from the porch, and a doorway on each side leads to stairs in the corner; there is also a front door on each side opening to the stairs. The porch has a pedi- ment, extending the whole width of the building. 9. Doorways: The openings are plain, square-headed. The central door is double, each half being wide by wide. The other doors are wide by high. The two-panel doors, natural color, all appear original. 10. Windows: Openings are semicircular-arched, with a thin plain impost. Those on the sides are triple-hung, 24-over-24-over-24 light, with radiating panes above in the arch. 11.

Roof: The roof Is gabled, and covered with modern com- position shingles. A Tuscan entablature surmounts the columns and pilasters to form a cornice for the whole building. 12. Towerr A square tower rises from the roof at the east end; it is of painted wood. There is a rusticated stage with a round opening on each side, having a base and cornice. Above this is a recently added open belfry stage, square in plan, with a semicircular-arched opening on each side framed hy a pilastered Doric frontis- piece, with pediment and attic course. Above this is an octagonal spire. BAPTIST CHURCH HABS Mo. (Page 3) C. Detailed Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: The auditorium is rectangular, with a gallery on three sides; a recessed porch and corner stairs occupy the east front. 2.

Stairways: Stairs rise to a low landing, turn and con- tinue beyond stair towers into the body of the church in a long flight. 3. Flooring: Entirely covered by carpeting. 4. V/all and ceiling finish: Plaster, painted; plain wood wainscoting the height of the pews. 5. Interior woodwork: Pews are in the form of benches, with paneled ends. 6. Order supporting gallery: Fluted Greek Doric columns, high, of plaster, carry a conventional entabla- ture, with an attic course forming the gallery railing. Columns are spaced in six bays the length of the audi- torium, and five bays across. 7. Ceiling: The ceiling has no interior supports.

A large cove, beginning about 27' above the floor, is divided into vertical panels each bearing three plaster paterae, and bordered at the top by a band of smooth conventional leaves resembling cobra heads. This band carries around quadrants at the corners, on the ceiling; in each quad- rant Is a rosette. The main ceiling panel contains a large patera on axis at each end, and a large plaster or wood centerpiece, at whose center are several suc- cessive bands of smooth conventional leaves, radiating, outside of which are anthemions borne on stalks (this is very similar to the centerpiece of Beth Elohim Synagogue In Charleston, South Carolina, built From the centerpiece hangs a three-tiered brass chan- delier (possibly modern).

Below the cove is a molded cornice and a frieze ornamented with a foliage band in relief; its character is not Greek possibly it follows Renaissance models of northern Europe. Below the frieae is a simple architrave. The ceiling was greatly damaged in by a storm; most of the ornament was saved and remounted, some recast. 8. West interior wall: There is no chancel recess; a paneled platform with pulpit projects from this wall, above which, on the wall, is a large panel with archi- trave moldings, crossetted at the head, carrying a frieze and pedimented cornice with antefixae. m BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. (Page 4) 9. Other interior finish: Window openings have no trim; modern interior blinds, Doorways have wood architrave trim.

There is a box lock on the central door; other hardware appears largely modern. Site and Surroundings: This building and its churchyard occupy an entire small block. An accessory building erected in ad/joins to the south and to the west. Prepared by Harley J. McKee Architect National Park Service August ..V iJ Beaufort Baptist Church Baptist Church HABS Ho. 600 Charles Street Beaufort Beaufort.. County South Carolina An addendum to: Baptist Church Charles Street between Prince and King Streets Beaufort Beaufort County South Carolina PHOTOGRAPHS Historic American Buildings Survey National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington,