First Baptist Church, Hampton Street, Columbia

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,40-COLUM,5-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Church Brief Statement This fine example of an ante-bellum church was the of Significance t site of The South Carolina Secession Convention on December 17, PART

Historical Information

The First Baptist Church was organized in and the first house of worship erected in at the southeast corner of Hampton (then Plain) and Sumter Streets. This area later became a grave yard when the present church building was erected. In a Sunday school # building was erected over this grave yard, and all stones extant were removed and placed against the perimeter wall or within the building. A complete map of grave locations was prepared and a listing of graves was graven on a marble slab, now in the lobby of the building. The church building now standing was erected in (archi- tect unknown) and was the site of the Secession Convention of December 17, On passing through Columbia in General Sherman gave orders that the building should be burned.

Through error in under- standing the order, the original building, still standing at that time at Hampton and Sumter Streets, was burned. The first pastor of the church was Reverend Dr. Jonathan Maxey, first President of South Carolina College (now University of South Carolina). Maxey had previously been president of Bhode Island and Union Colleges, and was a brilliant orator, scholar, and educator. Maxey is buried in the grave yard of the First Presbyterian Church, Columbia. In the church had a membership of 4 5 (49 white and 356 negro). It was determined to build a new church building (the present structure) in and the then pastor, Dr. James Pettigru Boyce subscribed to the building fund. At the close of the war in the total membership was 33? all white. During the pas- torate of Dr.

William C. Lindsay this church founded three other churches: Park Street, Tabernacle, and Southside. The original building has a Roman Tuscan portico and Tuscan pilasters down the sides, all rendered in molded brick. The building, before additions, was approximately 56* wide by 84' long, with balcony FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. (Page 2) down each side and at front over entrance vestibule. In the rear wall was removed, pushed back? and the church made 35' longer. At that time the proscenium arch was replaced with a rectangular proscenium of great width to allow for an adequate choir and baptistry. The orig- inal high pulpit and steps with carved volute flankers were retained and pushed "back to the new location.

In the exterior walls of the side aisles under the balcony were removed and 15' side aisle seating provided. The old upper wall and pilasters are supported on steel columns, encased in fluted Doric wood columns, matching the original work. During the alterations the building was completely air conditioned. All alterations have been done in a scholarly manner to preserve the character of the original structure. The brick of the building was painted a dirty brown around the turn of the century. During the alterations this paint was care- fully removed, exposing a very lovely range of color light tan and dark pink. The congregation is very conscious of the value of the building as a historic structure, and it is kept in "beautiful repair and maintained in fine condition.

Sources of information: Old Church records and Historical Marker. Helen Kohn Hennig, Sesqui-Centennial History of Columbia David Duncan Wallace^ South Carolina A Short History (Published revised and republished Prepared by Walter F. Petty AIA Preservation Officer December PART II, ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: A handsome, Greek-Revival church with a tetrastyle portico. 2. Condition of fabric: Excellent. B. Technical Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: Original church was 56' wide x &+' deep; 35' was added to the rear of the church in 15' was added to the east and west sides of the church in The church has two stories. 2. Foundations: Brick. 3.

Wall construction: 17" and 24" solid brick, laid in common bond, five stretcher rows to one header row; Tuscan pilasters between windows and at corners. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. (Page 3) m 4. Porches: Handsome tetrastyle Roman Tuscan portico, frame pediment over unfluted Tuscan columns of molded brick with brick capitals and bride floor on portico. 5. Chimneys: One "brick chimney. 6. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Front doors center entrance consists of a pair of large, wood, double doors with pilasters and projecting horizontal entabla- ture with heavy consoles; smaller, flanking, wood double doors with transoms and fan lights, framed by masonry arch, enlarged from original windows. b.

Windows and shutters; Above the front doors are three windows set in brick reveals having double- hung wood sash with arch-head sash above, ten- lights over ten-lights plus fan; same on sides. 7. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Gable roof, sloping side to side (sloped about with pediment to front. Pedi- ment is of matched boards without decoration. b, Cornice: Large, simple, wood cornice, with brick string courses below at line of capital tops. C. Technical Description of Interiors: 1. Floor plans; Auditorium with stepped balcony around three sides supported by fluted columns. Open balustrade around. 2. Stairways: Two - one on either side of entrance doors - leading to the balcony. 3. Flooring: Wood - carpeted. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Plaster. 5. Doorways and doors: Wood. 6.

Trim: Wood, molded. 7. Hardware: Not original. 8. Lighting: Electric. 9. Heating: Central heating - air conditioned. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HABS No. (Page 4) D. Site: 1. Orientation and general setting: Faces north on a built-up city street; set slightly hack from street. 2. Enclosures: None. 3. Outbuildings: Several other modern buildings of the church are connected to the main building, 4. Walks: Brick paving outside church. 5. Landscaping: Small box gardens around column bases. Prepared by James C. Massey, Architect National Park Service July