Augusta in Richmond County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2010

1. Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker

Inscription.
This building, which was erected in 1801 by Augusta`s first Methodist Society, was moved to this location in 1844 to become the home of the Springfield Baptist Church.

Organized in 1787 by Jesse Peters, the Springfield Baptist Church is the oldest independent African-American Church in the nation. This church helped bridge the transition between slavery and free citizenship and has stood as a focus for black community life.

This church building is the major landmark remaining from the early free-black community of Springfield. The original structure was moved to the rear of the lot when the new brick church was built in 1897. Springfield Church helped to establish many black institutions.

In 1867, Morehouse College, the nation`s only all-male, historically black undergraduate institution, was founded in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church as Augusta Institute by William Jefferson White as requested by Richard Coulter and Edmund Turney, while Henry Watts was serving as pastor. The school moved to Atlanta in 1879 and was renamed Morehouse College in 1913. This marker unveiled February 16, 1992, commemorates

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the 125th anniversary of Morehouse College`s founding.

Erected 1992 by Georgia Historic Marker. (Marker Number 121-51.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Notable Buildings • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1801.

Location. 33° 28.736′ N, 81° 58.283′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County. It is on Reynolds Street east of 12th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 12th St, Augusta GA 30901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ware High School (within shouting distance

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2010

2. Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker

of this marker); Transition (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Historical Timeline of Augusta (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named A Historical Timeline of Augusta (about 300 feet away); We've Come This Far by Faith: (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named A Historical Timeline of Augusta (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named A Historical Timeline of Augusta (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named A Historical Timeline of Augusta (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.

Also see . . .
1. Morehouse College. Morehouse has a 61 acre campus and an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students. (Submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

2. About Morehouse College. A Proud Tradition of Producing Outstanding Leaders In 1867, just two years after the American Civil War, the Atlanta Institute was founded by William Jefferson White, an Atlanta Baptist minister and cabinetmaker, with the support of the Rev. Richard C. Coulter, a former slave from Atlanta, Georgia, and the Rev. Edmund

Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker seen along Reynolds Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, May 16, 2010

3. Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker seen along Reynolds Street

Turney, organizer of the National Theological Institute for educating freedmen in Washington, D.C. The institution was founded to educate African American men in theology and education and was located in Springfield Baptist Church, the oldest independent black church in the United States. The Institute's first president was Rev. Dr. Joseph T. Robert (father of Brigadier General Henry Martyn Robert, author of Robert's Rules of Order). (Submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

3. Springfield Baptist Church. Excerpt:

Springfield Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Augusta, Georgia was built in 1801 and is a significant historical building for its architecture, religious history, and African American heritage. It is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA.

It was built in the architectural style of a New England meetinghouse, which is rare in Georgia. It is the oldest church building extant in Augusta and is claimed to be one of the oldest Black congregations in the U.S. The 1801, Springfield Baptist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Richmond
Photographed by Mike Stroud, May 16, 2010

4. Springfield Baptist Church seen along 12th Street in Augusta
County, Georgia in 1982, and the boundary of the National Register of Historic Places-listed site was increased in 1990.

(Submitted on April 27, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 10, 2025

5. Springfield Baptist Church Birthplace of Morehouse College Marker

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 10, 2025

6. 1801 Church

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,693 times since then and 107 times this year. Last updated on April 27, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 4, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5, 6. submitted on April 24, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.