Springfield Baptist Church (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Springfield Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Springfield Baptist Church occupies a 0.7-acre lot at Twelfth and Reynolds Streets in Augusta, Georgia, and holds two historic buildings: a wood-framed church from 1801 and a brick church built in 1897. The earlier building served the congregation from 1844 to 1897 and was moved to the rear of the lot when the new church went up. The 1897 church has two front towers, pointed-arch windows and entrances, buttresses, stained glass, and a gabled roof with parapet walls, all features of Late Victorian Gothic design. Albert Whitner Todd, an Augusta architect at the time, designed it. The congregation became independent under the Springfield Baptist name in 1787 and is described as one of the oldest independent black congregations in the country. The boundary was enlarged to include the 1897 building, which was recognized as significant for architecture and black history. Both buildings are among the last surviving structures of the historic Springfield community.
Significance in brief: The property is significant under Criterion A as an important black religious institution in the Springfield community, home to one of the oldest independent black congregations in the country. It is significant under Criterion C for the architecture of both buildings, with the 1897 church a good example of Late Victorian Gothic design by architect Albert Whitner Todd.
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 90000979, listed July 5, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 114 Twelfth St., Augusta |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Listed | July 5, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000979 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1801-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Todd, Albert Whitner |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1801 building is being rehabilitated, with asbestos siding and later interior additions removed, and will continue in congregational use for education and fellowship. The 1897 building remains the congregation's sanctuary. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Augusta Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.47877, -81.97183 (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 90000979.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7580936
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.