Springfield Baptist Church

Springfield Baptist was the site for many important meetings throughout the Civil Rights Movement and became the NAACP headquarters in Greenville, SC. In fact, it was recently added to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail as the only nationally significant Civil Rights stop in the city.

Started by 65 recently freed people in 1867, it was formed from a "walk out" of First Baptist Greenville--a church that held seperate services for Black and white folks.

On New Years Day 1960, Jackie Robinson led a peaceful march from Springfield Baptist Church to the Greenville Downtown Airport. Jackie Robinson, the first African American MLB player, had been turned away when he tried to use the waiting room at the airport. Two months later, the NAACP organized a speech and 1,000 person march.

Later that same year, March 16, 1960 sit-in in the Greenville County Library, the seven high school students created their plan in the sanctuary pews of Springfield Baptist Church.

It was one of Springfield Baptist Church’s members, A. J. Wittenberg, who filed the 1963 lawsuit that would eventually lead to the integration of Greenville County Public Schools.

Unfortunately, that historic building burnt to the ground on January 25, 1972. Rebuilt four years later, the church continues to host conversations on racial inequality.

The bell in the church sign, on the corner of McDaniel and McBee, is the same one that rang and was heard on all those important occasions.

Additional Resources:

Bainbridge, Judith. “Century-Old Springfield Baptist Church Was Reborn from the Ashes.” The Greenville News, The Greenville News, 7 Mar. 2017.

Crosby, W. H. “Fire Wipes Out Historic Baptist Church in S.C.” The Afro-American, 19 Feb. 1972, p. 16.

Davis, Angelia. “Downtown Greenville Church Listed on New Nationwide 'Trail' of U.S. Civil Rights Attractions.” The Greenville News, The Greenville News, 8 Aug. 2018,

“Greenville Civil Rights Leader, Pastor Retires.” WYFF, Hearst Television Inc., 11 Oct. 2017.

Landrum, Cindy. “Iconic Black History Landmarks in Greenville County.” Greenville Journal, Community Journals Publishing Group, 6 Feb. 2019.

Matthews, Kyle. “The People of God at First Baptist Greenville- News.” 13 Jan. 2014.

Obley, Patrick. “How Jackie Robinson Ignited Greenville's Civil Rights Movement.” Thestate, The State, 7 Apr. 2013.

Parker, Adam. “S.C. African American Heritage Commission Launches New 'Green Book,' Names Top Black History Sites.” Post and Courier, Post and Courier, 13 Jan. 2018.

Robertson, Nigel. “Rev. Jesse Jackson's Mother, Helen Burns Jackson, Is Laid to Rest in Greenville.” WYFF, Hearst Television, Inc., 9 Oct. 2017.

“Springfield Baptist Church – US Civil Rights Trail.” US Civil Rights Trail, South Carolina Office of Tourism.

“Springfield Baptist Church.” The Green Book of South Carolina, The Green Book of South Carolina.

Walker, Charlotte E. “Springfield Baptist Church Celebrates 150 Years.” The Greenville News, The Greenville News, 5 May 2017.