Bluffton in Beaufort County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
First Zion Baptist Church
Photographed by Glen Umberger, April 7, 2025
1. First Zion Baptist Church Marker
This congregation organized around the time of the Civil War to serve formerly enslaved African Americans living in the Bluffton area. It was originally known as First African Baptist Church and was later renamed First Zion. It was founded by Rev. Abraham Murchison, a native of Savannah, Ga. who began preaching along the Sea Islands during the Civil War. Eight trustees secured ownership of this site for the church in 1888.
The 1888 deed states that "the First African Baptist Church building" was already located on the property at that time. The congregation was an early member of the Mount Carmel Baptist Association, organized in the late 19th century. The wooden church was replaced in 1959 by a concrete block building that was expanded and brick-veneered in the 1960s. It was also later remodeled and still serves the congregation today.
Erected 2025 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History; sponsored by First Zion Missionary Baptist Church. (Marker Number 7-73.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures
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Location. 32° 14.075′ N, 80° 52.003′ W. Marker is in Bluffton, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. It is on Wharf Street north of Robertson Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47 Wharf St, Bluffton SC 29910, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry and on the Sea Islands. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cyrus Garvin / Cyrus Garvin House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bluffton United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Church of the Cross (approx. 0.3 miles
Photographed by Glen Umberger, April 7, 2025
2. First Zion Baptist Church Marker Reverse
Photographed by Glen Umberger, April 7, 2025
3. First Zion Baptist Church Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2025, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,713 times since then and 333 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2025, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
