Darlington First Baptist Church

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Built in 1912, Darlington First Baptist Church is striking example of Georgian Revival architecture and is home to a congregation founded in 1831. The church was built using red brick and features a large portico with Doric columns and medallions, arched windows, and a tall multi-staged steeple with several decorative elements including an octagonal masonry lantern with circular windows. The church campus includes a cemetery dating to the 1820s and a number of other buildings.

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Darlington First Baptist Church was built in 1912 and is an excellent example of Georgian Revival architecture.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

First Baptist was founded on April 23, 1831 and was originally called Darlington Baptist Church. The congregation consisted of just three men, six women, and the pastor, Rev. W.Q. Beattie. Over the next three decades, the congregation grew to 304 members, 212 of whom were African Americans. The congregation's second church building was erected in 1859 and was located in the rear of the property. The present church was built in 1912 and over time, the church campus expanded several times. In 1984, strong winds toppled the steeple (no one was hurt) and it was replaced ten months later with an even taller one. The church is a contributing property of the City of Darlington Multiple Resource Area, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Sources

"First Baptist Church, Darlington County." South Carolina Inventory Form for Historic Districts and Individual Properties in a Multiple Property Submission. January 5, 1988. http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/darlington/S10817716037/S10817716037.pdf.

"The History of First Baptist Church." First Baptist Church. Accessed March 3, 2021. http://www.darlingtonfbc.com

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Jud McCranie, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_Baptist_Church,_Darlington,_SC,_US.jpg

Additional Information