Old First Baptist Church
215 East Main Street
Freedom Temple Church occupies the Old Baptist Church building today at 215 East Main Street
Architect: Hook and Rogers
Builder: Padgett
Built: 1923
The original location of the Baptist church, on Hampton Street, became significantly altered in the 20th century. Sanborn Insurance Map 1926 – 1959, courtesy of the Galloway Map Collection.
Postcard view of the First Rock Hill Baptist Church on Hampton Street
Prior to the construction of the Baptist Church on East Main Street, the Roddey Reid home sat on the site, ca. 1854.
As the First Baptist Church of Rock Hill grew over the years since its inception, the need for a larger church building became apparent. At first, a site on White Street was purchased, but the congregation was not united in support for this site. In 1916, a lot on Main Street became available, and it was purchased for $17,498. A portion of this land facing Oakland Avenue was sold to the Peoples Trust Company for $10,250 the next year, helping to defray the cost. The congregation of about 300 members decided to build a large and imposing building on the new lot, and a Mr. Padgett was contracted to do the work for $125,000. The new building was completed in 1923. The old church on Hampton Street was sold in 1920 to the Record Printing Company for $10,000. The Rock Hill Record was printed there for a number of years. The Hampton Street site is now part of the City Hall complex.
In 2003, the congregation decided to leave its downtown facility in order to accommodate growth, and a new church was built on Dave Lyle Boulevard. The last service was held in the Main Street church in 2004, and later that year it was sold to Freedom Temple Ministries.