Historic Black Churches

Hilton Head Island is home to several historic African American churches that have been pillars of faith, culture, and community for generations. These sacred spaces not only provided spiritual guidance but also served as centers for education, civic engagement, and the preservation of the Gullah Geechee heritage. These historic churches are more than places of worship; they are enduring symbols of the Gullah Geechee people's resilience, faith, and commitment to community. Each church has played a vital role in preserving the rich cultural heritage of Hilton Head Island and continues to serve as a beacon of hope and unity.

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Baygall

Historic First African Baptist Church

Baygall

Founded on August 17, 1862, in Mitchelville—the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people in the United States—First African Baptist Church is Hilton Head Island's oldest African American congregation. Led by Reverend Abraham Murchison, a formerly enslaved man from Savannah, the church began with 120 members, all of whom were freedmen. Reverend Murchison played a significant role in the community, not only as a spiritual leader but also by assisting Union forces during the Civil War and recruiting African American soldiers for the Union Army. After the Civil War, the church relocated to the Chaplin community and underwent several name changes before reclaiming its original name.

https://www.historicfab.com/

Baygall

Queen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Baygall

Queen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church traces its origins to May 12, 1865, when AME missionaries, including Rev. Richard Harvey Cain, were forced to land on Hilton Head Island due to a storm while en route to Charleston. They established the church in the Cherry Hill area, providing a spiritual home for the newly freed African American community. The current church property was acquired in 1886, with the existing structure built or relocated there around 1892.

Baygall

St. James Baptist Church

Baygall

St. James Baptist Church was established in 1886 by former members of First African Baptist Church who wished to continue worshiping in the Mitchelville area after the original church relocated. As the only remaining institution from the historic town of Mitchelville, St. James has been a continuous presence in the community. The church has served as a caretaker for two native islander cemeteries—Union and Drayton—and the historic Cherry Hill School, a one-room schoolhouse built in 1937 for African American children. The current brick sanctuary was constructed in 1972 and renovated in 2005.

https://www.stjameshhi.org/

Baygall

Squire Pope

Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church

Squire Pope

Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church was founded on March 14, 1914, by members who separated from First African Baptist Church to establish a new congregation in the Pope community. Under the leadership of Rev. B.W. Williams, the church was built on land donated by the Miller family. Mt. Calvary has maintained traditional Gullah worship practices, including outdoor baptisms in Skull Creek, and continues to be an active spiritual and cultural center on the island.

Squire Pope

Chaplin

Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church

Chaplin

Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, established around 1887, originated from a congregation known as Good Will Baptist Church. Located in the Chaplin community, the church has been a cornerstone of the Gullah community, serving as a place of worship and community gathering. Despite challenges, including damage from natural disasters, Central Oak Grove continues to uphold its mission and heritage.

Chaplin

Jonesville

The Church of Christ

Jonesville