• In 1817, eighteen Christians decided to band together into what was known as the Baptist Praying
    Society.  They drew up a covenant and began proceedings to become a constituted church.  Land was
    secured on Greene Street in Augusta, Georgia and plans to build began.  A new church was dedicated on
    Augusta, Georgia and plans to build began.  A new church was dedicated on May 6, 1821.  This
    congregation became the First Baptist Church.  This congregation became the First Baptist Church.

  • 1845, facing issues of slavery and foreign missions, the national convention split which resulted in a
    called convention to be held on this site, the Southern Baptist Convention was born.

  • In 1899, the church congregation voted to rebuild the sanctuary, designed similar to the Church of
    Madeleine in Paris, and dedicated the building in the year of 1902.

  • In 1967, this historic site hosted its sesquicentennial celebration, a week long event featuring a cantata,
    pageantry and a service of consecration by the Reverend, Dr. Billy Graham.

  • In 1975, the congregation moved to another site in Augusta, Georgia.

  • A  non-profit foundation, Southern Baptist Birthplace, Inc. was formed to preserve this historic structure.

  • A small plot of land was given to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention upon
    which an identification marker was erected in 1984.

  • In 2003, Southern Bible Institute and Seminary began holding classes in this building.  Today, this
    building with all its great history has become home for Southern Bible Institute and Seminary.
    Brief History of This Sight in Which the Seminary meets
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History