Washington Street United Methodist Church
National Register Listing
Street Address:
1401 Washington St., Columbia, SC (Richland County)
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817740008
Description and Narrative:
Washington Street United Methodist Church is one of Columbia’s four most historic churches. Organized in 1803, the congregation built a frame church that was the first house of worship in Columbia. A brick structure built in 1830s burned in 1865. According to legend, the church was destroyed by Union soldiers looking for First Baptist Church, site of the first meeting of South Carolina secession convention, and were directed here by a Baptist sexton. A small chapel built of brick salvaged from ruins was replaced by the present church that was erected with funds collected throughout the nation. Completed in 1872, the Washington Street Church is a red brick Victorian Gothic church with double-shouldered buttresses and a large arched center entrance with double doors flanked by similar arched entrances. The church features a fully developed tower with a steeple on the left side of the front façade with matching lines extending to the roofline on the right. Both towers are topped with four pinnacles with unusual crown-shaped ornaments, giving the appearance of Islamic influence. Stained glass windows depict life of Christ without using human figures. Listed in the National Register December 18, 1970.
Period of Significance:
1872
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Architecture;Archeology: Historic - Aboriginal;Religion
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
December 18 1970
