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 and is special because of its unique design, its long history of faith, and its connection to African American heritage. It is part of the American Baptist Churches USA.
The church building looks like a "meetinghouse" from New England, which is a style not often seen 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. Springfield Baptist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its protected area was made larger in 1990.
Contents
History of Springfield Baptist Church
Building Design and Changes
The original church building is a simple, two-story wooden structure. It has two doors on the first floor, with two arched windows above them. A smaller arched window is in the attic area. The sides of the church have rows of seven windows on both the first and second floors. Inside, the church has a large meeting hall with a small entrance area.
In 1844, another church group, the Methodists, built a new brick church. Their old meetinghouse was then moved on logs to the corner of 12th Street and Reynolds Street. This building was given to the Springfield Baptist congregation. This group was one of the oldest Black Baptist congregations 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. Springfield Baptist Church also hosted important meetings, like the 1866 Georgia State Freedmen's Conventions. These meetings helped formerly enslaved people after the war.
In 1897, the church group built a new church building 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 congregation still takes care of this original building and uses it for special events today.
The Baptist Congregation
The Springfield Baptist Church group started even before the 1801 building was constructed. It was founded in 1787 by Reverend Jesse Peters. The congregation believes it has a direct connection to the Silver Bluff Baptist Church. This church was founded in South Carolina between 1774 and 1775. It was one of the very first Black Baptist congregations in the nation. Because of this connection, some historians, like Walter Brooks, have suggested that Springfield Baptist is the oldest Black Baptist congregation. 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
