Church Square
Also known as: Church Square (including First Baptist Church of Columbus)
Why it's listed
Church Square occupies a downtown Columbus block bounded by 2nd and 3rd Avenues and 11th and 12th Streets. Edward Lloyd Thomas reserved it in his 1828 city plan. The Methodists received the south lot in 1828 and the Baptists the north lot in 1829, and both congregations still worship on their lots. The First Baptist sanctuary dates to 1859 and began as a Gothic style building. A Gothic steeple was removed in 1896-1897, and in 1909 the front was remodeled with six Doric columns and a pediment. By 1910 the building had become neo-classical in form. Additions built between 1924 and 1948, including an educational wing and chapel, match the original in scale and character. The grounds hold lawns, boxwood, shade trees, a granite fountain and the old steeple bell. The block was listed as the only surviving church square in downtown Columbus still serving its original purpose, and for the age of the Baptist sanctuary. The 1948 Methodist church was not included.
Significance in brief: It is the only remaining church square in downtown Columbus still used for its original purpose, with two congregations worshipping there for over 150 years. The Baptist sanctuary is the oldest existing sanctuary downtown and shows the congregation's growth through successive remodelings from Gothic to neo-classical form.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001151, listed December 2, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by 2nd and 3rd Aves., 11th and 12th Sts., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | December 2, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001151 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Square laid out by Edward Lloyd Thomas in his 1828 plan of Columbus; no architect or builder named for the church |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use as church property; described as in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 32.46763, -84.98973 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001151.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19864676
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.