South Carolina Department of Archives and History |
National Register Properties in South Carolina First Baptist Church, Darlington County (246 S. Main St., Darlington) |
Facade | Left Oblique | Left Elevation | Right Oblique | Loggia Detail |
Facade Education Building |
Right Elevation Education Building |
Cemetery |
The First Baptist Church is architecturally significant as an example of the Georgian Revival style. Built in 1912, the large, rectangular brick edifice is distinguished by a Roman Doric pedimented portico, which displays an entablature with medallions between tryglyphs. Within the front portico are three recessed doorways with semicircular fanlights, above which, at balcony level, are similar fanlights. A steeple is located on the ridge of the roof and rests in part on the portico roof. The steeple is characterized by several stages: a square base with sandstone quoins and circular windows; an octagonal masonry lantern featuring round-arched louvered vents and Roman Doric corner pilaster and entablatures, capped and encircled by a balustrade with decorative urns; an octagonal wood section above containing circular windows in each bay and terminating in a copper spire surmounted by a cross. The adjacent church building, which was completed as a wooden structure in 1859 was then used for Sunday School and other youth activities. This building was remodeled extensively in 1924 to its present brick appearance and connected to the sanctuary by an arched loggia. The cemetery at the back of the property dates from the 1820’s and contains many of Darlington’s most noted citizens. Listed in the National Register October 17, 1991.
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