Nestled at 106 Church Street in Simpsonville, South Carolina, the Simpsonville Baptist Church—now formally known as First Baptist Simpsonville—is a radiant example of early 20th-century Romanesque Revival architecture and a cherished symbol of the city’s spiritual journey.

Founded in 1888 by F. H. Martin with just 24 members, the congregation originally met in a small wood-frame structure erected in 1889 As Simpsonville matured into a thriving cotton-processing town in the late 19th century, the congregation grew alongside it, prompting the need for a grander sanctuary.

Between 1913 and 1914, the current brick edifice rose—a two-story, five-bay sanctuary built in Flemish-bond brick on a solid brick foundation with ashlar watertable supports. Its Romanesque Revival style, designed by architects Luther D. Proffit and E. J. Gibson, is distinguished by twin towers on its west façade and decorative brick detailing across the chapel and annex wings. The new building was dedicated with pride on May 15, 1914, at a total construction cost (including furnishings) of approximately $19,208.

The church’s most celebrated features are its stained-glass windows—specifically “Our Savior Knocking on the Door” and “The Lost Sheep”—believed to be inspired by Victorian-era biblical painter William Holman Hunt, shining vivid stories across the sanctuary’s interior lighting. For decades, the congregation affectionately referred to their home as “The Friendly Church With Beautiful Windows.”

Over time, the church campus expanded with educational wings and community-focused structures: a chapel completed in 1914, a Sunday school building in 1947, additional classrooms in 1961 and 1974, a family life center in 1997, and a modern 1,500-seat worship center unveiled in 2008—though the historic chapel remains the architectural and spiritual heart of the campus.

Recognized for both architectural integrity and community impact, the Simpsonville Baptist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 13, 1992 (Ref. #92001309)