Central Baptist Church Papers

 

Avery Research Center Manuscript Number 1034

 

Historical Note:

 

Central Baptist Church, an African American Congregation in Charleston, SC, was formed in a split from the Morris Street Baptist Church in 1891. The congregation purchased a lot at 26 Radcliffe Street and still worships in the building it constructed in the early 1890s. The building is on the National Register and is known for its murals.

 

Scope and Content:  two photocopied (ca. 1995) minute books (1891 - 1916)

 

The photocopied minutes detail the founding of the church in a split from Reverend John L. Dart’s Morris St. Baptist Church, and documents all aspects of its construction and governance. With periodic mentions of members joining, leaving, being expelled and chastised for various social offences, such as dancing, drinking, adultery, etc. Volume one (1891-1899) appears to be the earlier volume; nearly all its entries and many more not present appear to have been transcribed, with some changes, into the second, much more complete, volume (1891-1916). Lent for photocopying by the church.

 

 

Subjects

 

Central Baptist Church, Charleston, SC.

Morris St. Baptist Church, Charleston.

Dart, John L., Rev.  1854 - 1915

Baptists – SC – Charleston, SC

Baptists – African Americans

African Americans – Baptists

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I

Minute books

Box #

 

 

Folder #

 

 

 

1

Photocopy of tattered minute book ca. March 1891 -December 1899, with gaps.

1-1

 

Minutes document congregation separating from "illiterate" followers of Rev. J. L.

 

 

Dart at Morris Street Baptist Church, all matters of church governance and building,

 

 

with occasional references to individual congregants leaving, joining, or being

 

 

excommunicated or chastised for various offences such as dancing, slander, adultery,

 

 

selling liquor, etc. Many of these minutes were copied over, with slight variations in

 

 

wording into the next volume; but this volume contains a description (August 27, 1893)

 

 

of the hurricane not present in the other volume. With some distinctions periodically

 

 

noted between male and female members. Rear of volume contains lists of original

 

 

members,  and 1893 lists of confirmed and members who joined by baptism or

 

 

"experience."

 

 

 

 

2

Photocopy of more complete minute book, January 1891 - Oct. 1916, with gaps.

1-2

 

Minutes document the congregation's separation from Morris Street Baptist Church

 

 

with details re fights, police use, etc. Further minutes of monthly and special meetings

 

 

detail building and remodeling and decorating of the church; all issues of church

 

 

governance, and staff; with periodic mentions of individual members joining, leaving,

 

 

being excommunicated or chastised for various offenses including  adultery,  dancing,

 

 

disorderly conduct, "immoral living", lack of attendance,  "giving birth before time",

 

 

selling liquor, bigamy, etc. With notes of a minister leaving abruptly with all his bills

 

 

unpaid.  There are mentions of congregants from "Five Mile", "Ten Mile", Lincoln

 

 

(ville), Gethsemane Station, St. Andrew's Parish and elsewhere. Periodic entries

 

 

distinguish between duties and responsibilities of male and female members with there

 

 

being periodic discussions of the merits of those seeking license to preach. Some

 

 

correspondence has been copied into the volume and some entries stop abruptly.

 

 

There is a recapitulation of the church history (pp.248 - 255), lists of renovation

 

 

expenses and a few mentions of "Professor" Milar, who painted the interior murals.

 

 

 

 

3

Typed description (1995) of the original minute books brought to Avery Research

1-3

 

Center for photocopying -- noting missing or blank pages in the originals.