Smyrna Baptist Church, church building in South Carolina, United States of America
Smyrna Baptist Church is a single-story wooden building constructed in 1827 featuring a simple meeting house style set on a brick foundation. The front elevation displays a large central window with two nine-pane doors flanking it, while the side walls contain five shuttered windows with distinctive eyebrow-shaped windows positioned above each one.
The building was established in 1827 and was originally known as Kirkland Church, part of the Savannah River Baptist Association. A significant event occurred in 1833 when a heresy trial resulted in the excommunication of Dr. W. R. Erwin and his family over their views on communion.
The church reflects how religious communities in this region evolved and adapted their practices over time. The surrounding cemetery with its weathered headstones tells the story of the families who have been part of this community for generations.
The building sits near Allendale and is accessible from South Carolina Highway 22 in the area. The surrounding cemetery and trees create a quiet setting for exploration, so visitors should plan time to walk around the grounds at a relaxed pace.
After their expulsion, Dr. Erwin and his family founded Antioch Christian Church and initially gathered at his property called Erwinton before moving to a new building in 1835. This religious split demonstrates how doctrinal disagreements led to the creation of new faith communities in the region.
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