First Baptist Church / Village Cemetery
First Baptist Church
Founded in 1823 as Edgefield Baptist Church, with Basil Manly, Sr., Pastor, Matthew Mims, Clerk, and Arthur Simkins, Moderator, this church led in the establishment here in 1826 of Furman Academy and Theological Institution. William Bullein Johnson, pastor here 1830-52, served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention 1845-51; Robert G. Lee, a former pastor, served in 1948-51.
Village Cemetery
Burial place of
three S.C. Governors: F.W. Pickens, 1807-1869, J.C. Sheppard, 1850-1931, John G. Evans, 1863-1942 and the families of Gov. Pierce H. Butler and Gov. M.L. Bonham. Also buried here are Francis H. Wardlaw 1800-1861 Preston S. Brooks 1818-1857 Matthew C. Butler 1836-1909 John Lake, 1870-1949, missionary to China.
Marker is on Church Street, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
