First African Baptist Church of Beaufort celebrates 150 years

For 150 years, First African Baptist Church of Beaufort has held sway over the community, literally and figuratively.

The two-story white church at 601 New St. in The Point was built by freedmen after the Civil War, using techniques that allow the building to bend and move should hurricane-level winds begin to blow.

It’s also been the home congregation to prominent Beaufort figures, such as Civil War hero and U.S. Congressman Robert Smalls, Pastor Alexander McBride said. That membership also includes many school and community leaders who were influenced by the church’s strong focus on education.

“Education is everything,” McBride said. “Knowledge is power. Knowledge is clarity. When you have knowledge, you cannot be fooled; you cannot be duped.”

The congregation has celebrated its 150th anniversary all week, in a series of nightly services with leaders from area churches. It culminates in a service at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The congregation began with a small prayer house that was standing by 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read. On Jan. 1, 1865, former slaves began work on the new church, laying the cornerstone.

“This is the oldest one in Beaufort that was built by former slaves,” Deacon and church historian John Owens said.

First African Baptist was one of a number of congregations that established churches in the years following the Civil War, according to its National Register of Historic Places application for the Beaufort Historic District.

Deacons purchased the land for the church from the Baptist Church of Beaufort, according to the application.

“Former slaves who came out from under oppression came together and purchased this property,” Owens said. “... Think of the task it took to build this church while still trying to earn a living when you were a slave just two years ago.”

The church also educated freed slaves and has continued to educate young children over the years.

Arthur Waddell of Savannah served as pastor from 1865 until 1894, when declining health led to his retirement. He died in 1895 and is one of only two members of the church buried on the grounds.

“He was very influential to the community and a very strong orator in Jesus Christ,” Owens said.

Deacon Isaac Moultrie is the other member buried there.

Almost the entire structure of the church is original, although some pieces have been updated during renovations, and the building has been modernized with electricity, heating and air conditioning, and other features.

McBride became the pastor 10 years ago after his barber insisted he visit the church. That visit led to an impromptu sermon by him, and he has been there since.

The congregation has shrunk over the years, he said. But he is seeing an increase in younger members and families, and financial giving has doubled.

Much of the church’s history is organized into an archive room in the former parsonage. Rows of shelves are filled with binders of photos and old documents, books from the church’s library and items of significance members have saved. Among them are Bibles used by Waddell and other former pastors, pieces of wood and tabby removed from the church during renovations, and an old traveling Communion set.

Tacked to the walls and edges of the shelves are photos of former and current members and newspaper clippings from various publications over the years.

“When we established our archives committee, we wanted to make sure we had something to leave behind,” Owens said.

This story was originally published January 17, 2015 at 6:19 PM with the headline "First African Baptist Church of Beaufort celebrates 150 years."