Good Hope Baptist Church
National Register Listing
Street Address:
SC 378 near Sandhill Rd., Eastover, SC (Richland County)
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817740084
Description and Narrative:
Good Hope Baptist Church, located in the Sandhills of Richland County, is significant architecturally as one of the few remaining antebellum churches in lower Richland County. This frame, temple-form Greek Revival building, which retains its original slave gallery, began as a branch of Congaree Baptist Church, located eight miles to the south. It was reportedly constructed in 1857 by John McLauchlin, an active member of the Congaree church. At the 1857 meeting of the association, Congaree Church reported being “engaged in erecting a new house of worship,” and by the 1858 meeting, “had built a new church for convenience of distant poor and other members at their summer seat.” A two-story frame addition to the north dates from 1950 and repeats the materials and proportions of the original building. Situated on land given by James H. Seay, owner of Laurelwood, located a few hundred yards from the church, it was not organized as a separate church until 1866. While an independent body, Good Hope maintained close ties with Congaree Baptist, as they shared a minister, Charles Augustus Stiles, for many years, holding services on alternating Sundays. Good Hope Baptist Church remains active to the present time. The property also contains a cemetery where many of the church’s former members are buried. Listed in the National Register March 27, 1986.
Period of Significance:
circa 1857
Level of Significance:
State
Area of Significance:
Religion;Architecture
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
March 27 1986
