Springfield Baptist Church (Augusta, Georgia) facts for kids
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Springfield Baptist Church
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 112 12th St. (original) and 114 12th St. (increase), Augusta, Georgia |
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| Built | 1801 (both) |
| Architect | Todd, Albert Whitner (increase) |
| Architectural style | Gothic (increase) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002461 (original) 90000979 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 17, 1982 |
| Boundary increase | July 5, 1990 |
Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia, is a very old and important church. It was built in 1801. This church is special because of its unique design, its long religious history, and its strong connection to African American heritage. It is part of the American Baptist Churches USA family.
The church building looks like a New England meetinghouse. This style is quite rare in Georgia. It is the oldest church building still standing in Augusta. Many people believe it is also one of the oldest Black church groups in the United States. The 1801 Springfield Baptist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its protected area was made larger in 1990.
A Look at History
Church Building Design
The original church building is a simple, two-story wooden structure. It has two doors on the first floor. Above these doors are two arched windows. A smaller arched window is in the gable (the triangular part of the wall) at the top. The sides of the church have seven windows on both the first and second floors. Inside, the church has a large meeting hall. There is a small entry area at the front.
In 1844, another church group, the Methodists, built a new brick church. Their old wooden meeting house was then moved. Workers rolled it on logs to the corner of 12th Street and Reynolds Street. This building was given to the Springfield Baptist group. At that time, Springfield Baptist was one of the oldest Black Baptist groups in the country. Before the American Civil War, the church had about 1,000 members. It was the largest church group in the Georgia Baptist Association. In 1866, Springfield Baptist hosted important meetings for newly freed African Americans. These meetings were called the 1866 Georgia State Freedmen's Conventions.
In 1897, the church group built a new church on the same spot. This new building was designed in the Late Victorian Gothic style. The older 1801 building was moved to face Reynolds Street. The church still takes care of this old building and uses it for special events.
The Baptist Church Group
The Springfield Baptist Church group started even before the 1801 building was constructed. It was founded in 1787 by Reverend Jesse Peters. The group says it has strong ties to the Silver Bluff Baptist Church. That church was founded in South Carolina between 1774 and 1775. It was one of the very first Black Baptist groups in the nation. Because of this, historian Walter Brooks thought Springfield Baptist was the oldest Black Baptist church group. However, the First Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia, which started in 1774, also claims to be the oldest.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Georgia
