Edisto Island Baptist Church

Edisto Island Baptist Church is a protestant church building on an island in South Carolina with a two-story design and finished wooden exterior walls. The gable roof sits atop the structure, and the front side is supported by four square posts that form a porch.

The building was completed in 1818, funded through donations gathered by Hepzibah Jenkins Townsend. After 1865, formerly enslaved people took ownership of the structure, renamed it, and enlarged it to serve their own community needs.

The second-story gallery shows how the building once served people of different backgrounds during services, reflecting the complex social structure of that time. The space itself tells this story through its physical layout.

The structure sits on roughly one acre of land along South Carolina Highway 174 and retains many of its original features. Visitors should take time to view the woodwork details and roof construction from different angles around the property.

The foundation displays two different construction methods: the original section uses tabby material, while the later 1865 addition rests on brick piers. This distinction becomes visible when examining the underpinnings from various sides.

Location: South Carolina

Inception: 1818

GPS coordinates: 32.57289,-80.28417

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:12