Gillisonville Baptist Church Ridgeland South Carolina

by Lisa Wooten

Title

Gillisonville Baptist Church Ridgeland South Carolina

Artist

Lisa Wooten

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

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Gillisonville Baptist Church is a historic Southern Baptist church on U.S. 278 in Gillisonville, Jasper County, South Carolina. It was built in 1838, and is in the Greek Revival style. Notable features include the a portico supported by Doric order columns on pedestals. In February 1865, General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops visited the church and etched "War of 1861-62-63-64. Feb. 1865. This is done by a Yankee Soldier," on the communion silver. The congregation became Gillisonville Baptist Church on November 19, 1885.[2][3]
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
The church and a dwelling are the remains of the old town of Gillisonville (one-time seat of the old Beaufort District), which was burned by Sherman’s Army in 1865. The church was constituted in 1832 as the summer home of Coosawatchie Baptist Church so it might escape the insects and “fever” of the hot summer months. It was built in 1838 and named Gillisonville Baptist Church in 1885. The Greek Revival style church is sheathed in white clapboard with brick foundation piers. The portico is supported by Doric columns on pedestals, and has a gable roof. The square tower which rises from the gable ridge pole contains two sections. The first is enclosed but possesses a section which may have been open formerly. The second, which contains the bell, is open. Its roof is supported by four round columns. It was apparently constructed by local craftsmen and possesses many original features such as boxed pews, random width flooring, and a former slave balcony in the rear supported by chamfered columns. The church and cemetery is surrounded by ancient moss laden trees. The church was used as headquarters for a contingent of Union troops during the Civil War. The old communion set was etched by a Union soldier “War of 1861-2-3-4. Feb. 1865. This is done by a Yankee soldier.” Listed in the National Register May 14, 1971.
(Gillisonville). Situated in Jasper County, on high ground west of the Coosawhatchie River, the pineland village of Gillisonville was settled early in the history of Beaufort District. As with other inland communities, there was little economic activity, and the village remained small. Most houses were occupied only seasonally by planters desiring a healthy summer residence for their families.From 1790 until 1836, Beaufort District’s seat of government was at Coosawhatchie, six miles to the south. Although Coosawhatchie was conveniently located, its proximity to the tidal rice plantations of lower St. Luke’s Parish produced a deadly climate. By the mid-1830s the town was decried as “too sickly to occupy,” and the courthouse was moved to Gillisonville in 1836. With the coming of the courthouse, the village became a real town. New boardinghouses, taverns, shops, and churches sprang up near the courthouse square, while members of Coosawhatchie Baptist Church, organized in 1832, erected a proud new building just outside town (the exact date of construction is in dispute). The wood-frame edifice is a good example of the Greek Revival “temple” design favored for churches. Four columns support the large, pedimented front-gable end, providing a broad, deep portico. An oversized square tower surmounted by an open belfry dominates the building.Most of Gillisonville proper, including the courthouse, was burned by Union troops in January 1865. According to tradition, the Baptist church was undamaged because troops sheltered themselves and their horses there. Although the court was moved to Beaufort during Reconstruction, Gillisonville remained a local trading village. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, Gillisonville Baptist Church is still in active use. Wikipedia Google

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September 6th, 2018

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