#TBT: 10 of Columbia’s historic churches
One of my favorite things to do when I travel (especially abroad) is visiting old churches. You will often find a city’s most grandiose, historic architecture in its places of worship. They are a window into a city’s past – often situated in the middle of downtown on a busy street corner – juxtaposed by modern infrastructure + office buildings.
Columbia’s many historic churches are visual strongholds of their rich histories of community + fellowship. Read about ten of our favorites below – then click here to see a map of where they are and take a driving tour. Shoutout to reader Zara for creating the map.
⛪Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church | 📍819 Woodrow St.
Date founded: 1866
Current building constructed: 1939
Denomination: African Methodist Episcopal
Fun fact: This church was first organized in a sword factory on Wayne St. In 1921, the Bethel Society moved to a blacksmith’s shop on the corner of Sumter + Hampton St., where a larger framework was built to house its growing congregation. The structure was designed by John Anderson Lankford – who was one of the first black registered architects in the U.S. In 1995, the church moved to their current location. The Renaissance Foundation is attempting to turn the old location on Sumter St. into a civil rights museum with the help of City Council. (It’s been vacant since Bethel AME moved in 1955.)
Bethel AME location on Sumter + Hampton until 1955 | Photo courtesy Richland Library’s The Walker Local and Family History Center Digital Collection
Bethel AME’s current location on Woodrow St.
⛪Chappelle Memorial A.M.E Church | 📍1101 Pine St.
Date founded: 1903
Current building built: 1949
Denomination: African Methodist Episcopal
Chappelle Memorial AME was organized by Rev. J.W. Witherspoon in 1903. Following WWII, the congregation’s size increased, and the church built a new, larger sanctuary in 1949. After finishing the new structure in 1950, the church’s name was changed from Chappelle Station to Chappelle Memorial to honor Bishop W. D. Chappelle.
Chappelle Memorial A.M.E Church
⛪ Ebenezer Lutheran Chapel | 📍1301 Richland St.
Date Founded: 1830
Current building built: 1931
Denomination: Lutheran
Ebenezer was dedicated as Columbia’s first Lutheran church in 1830. The original church, constructed in 1830, burned in 1865 (along with most of Columbia) + was rebuilt in 1870. The present church on the corner of Richland and Sumter Streets was built in 1931.
Ebenezer Lutheran Chapel | Photo by @churches_and_things
⛪First Baptist Church | 📍1306 Hampton St.
Date founded: 1809
Date moved to current building: 1992
Denomination: Baptist
The congregation first gathered in the Richland County courthouse before building a sanctuary at Sumter + Hampton St. (completed in 1811). as built in 1859. The secession convention drafted a resolution on Dec. 17, 1860 at this location – right before the outbreak of the Civil War. It was the largest building downtown at the time. In 1992, services moved to a new building connected to the historic building that includes the new sanctuary and the Estep Family Life Centre.
First Baptist Church Historic Photo | Copyright © The State Media Company via Richland Library’s The Walker Local and Family History Center Digital Collection
First Baptist Church | Photo by @lucascorf
⛪ First Calvary Baptist Church | 📍1401 Pine St.
Date founded: 1886
Current building built: 2005
Denomination: Baptist
The 13 founding members originally met in today’s Mann-Simons Site and built their own sanctuary on Richland St. in 1870. The original congregation split to form the congregations of First Calvary, Second Calvary + Zion Baptist, and First Calvary stands in a stone building on Pine St. today.
First Calvary Baptist Church | Photo by First Calvary Baptist Church
Founding members of First Calvary Baptist Church | Photo by @historiccolumbia
⛪ First Presbyterian Church | 📍1324 Marion St.
Date founded: June 4, 1795
Current building built: 1854
Denomination: Presbyterian
The current sanctuary (built in 1854) underwent its most recent renovation + restoration project in 2002. The ~180-ft. steeple was once Columbia’s tallest structure. First Presbyterian claims the title of oldest congregation in Columbia.
First Presbyterian Church | Photo by @amandaljanson
⛪ Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox | 📍1931 Sumter St.
Date founded: 1936
Current building built: 2011
Denomination: Greek Orthodox
In 1939, Holy Trinity built a frame house to worship in – until their congregation grew so large by 1949 that they needed a new space – so they moved to their current location on Sumter + Calhoun. In 1988, they began holding their annual Greek Festival – which attracts 120,000+ annually present day. Check out our Instagram story highlight to see the in-progress iconography by Greek artist George Kordis inside of the cathedral – a project that’s been in-the-works since 2011.
Newer Holy Greek Orthodox church building | Photo by @christinapgardiner
⛪ St. Peter’s Catholic Church | 📍1529 Assembly St.
Date founded: 1821
Current building built: 1906
Denomination: Roman Catholic
St. Peter’s is the oldest Catholic church in the Midlands, dating back to 1821. The original sanctuary was designed by Robert Mills, but the church outgrew it by the early 1900s. The current structure was built in 1906 and features art nouveau-style Tiffany stained glass windows.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church | Photo by @thinkofdave
⛪ The Church of The Good Shepherd | 📍1512 Blanding St.
Date founded: 1883
Current building built: 1899
Denomination: Episcopal
Good Shepherd was established in 1883 by Trinity Church (present day Trinity Cathedral) to provide a church for those who lived on the North side of town. After initially building a church on Barnwell St., the church moved to its present site on Blanding St. in 1899 due to a dispute over title claims. Good Shepherd is the third-oldest Episcopal parish in Columbia.
The Church of The Good Shepherd | Photo by The Church of The Good Shepherd
⛪Trinity Episcopal Cathedral | 📍1100 Sumter St.
Date founded: 1812
Current building built: 1847
Denomination: Episcopal
In 1865, Trinity was spared of burning by General Sherman (a Roman Catholic) because they removed all their “Episcopal” signs + placed papier-mâché crosses on the church’s roof. The sanctuary was modeled after the York Minster Cathedral in England. Six former S.C. governors are buried in its churchyard.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral | Photo by @james_simpson_photography
⛪Washington Street United Methodist Church | 📍1401 Washington St.
Date founded: 1803
Current building built: 1865
Denomination: Methodist
The original church building was constructed fully of wood in 1804. In 1865, that building was burned by Union troops, and they later rebuilt.
Washington Street United Methodist Church | Photo by @alishajoyalford
Luckily for Columbia, these churches are not only full of history, but beautiful, too.
Did we miss your favorite historic church in town? And what’s the history behind it? Respond to this email/comment on this post to let us know.