First African Baptist Church is a church in

Beaufort, South Carolina Beaufort ( , different from that of Beaufort, North Carolina) is a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston, South Carolina ...

, that was built by freed slaves after the American Civil War. It is at 601 New Street.

Robert Smalls Robert Smalls (April 5, 1839 – February 23, 1915) was an American politician who was born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina. During the American Civil War, the still enslaved Smalls commandeered a Confederate transport ship in Charlesto ...

was a member of the congregation. Rev. Arthur Waddell was one of its organizers. According to a historical marker at the church it is constructed in the

Carpenter Gothic Carpenter Gothic, also sometimes called Carpenter's Gothic or Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architecture, Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massin ...

style. The church ran a school. The church is part of the Beaufort Historic District.https://www.thestate.com/living/religion/article13938428.html The State website

References

Baptist churches in South Carolina Buildings and structures in Beaufort, South Carolina Carpenter Gothic church buildings in South Carolina Year of establishment missing {{SouthCarolina-Baptist-church-stub