Smyrna Baptist Church, also known as Kirkland Church, is a historic Baptist church located near Allendale, Allendale County, South Carolina. It was built in 1827, and is a one-story, meeting house style frame structure with a hipped roof. The front facade features a central Palladian window flanked by balancing nine-paneled entrance doors. A cemetery surrounds the church.[2][3]

Smyrna Baptist Church
The church in 2017
Smyrna Baptist Church is located in South Carolina
Smyrna Baptist Church
Smyrna Baptist Church is located in the United States
Smyrna Baptist Church
LocationSouth of Allendale on South Carolina Highway 22, near Allendale, South Carolina
Coordinates32°56′11″N 81°21′07″W / 32.93652°N 81.35181°W / 32.93652; -81.35181
Area7 acres (2.8 ha)
Built1827
Architectural styleMeeting House Design
NRHP reference No.76001691[1]
Added to NRHPMay 28, 1976

Dr. William Erwin, the original owner of Erwinton, his wife and sister-in-law were all excommunicated from Kirkland Church in 1833 for their affiliation with other denominations. They then formed the second Christian congregation, the Disciples of Christ, in South Carolina. They held weekly meetings at Erwinton until 1835 when the present meeting house was completed and dedicated as Antioch Christian Church.[4]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[1]

The land the church resides on belonged to the Mixson family and was deeded to the church by William J. Mixson on June 5, 1849 with the condition, “the said lot of Land is to used, held and enjoyed by now but the Baptist denomination of the same faith and order as those now worshiping there."[5]

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References

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  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. McNulty, Katharine; Huron A. Gray; Debora L. Gwinn (September 29, 197). "Kirkland Church, Smyrna Baptist Church" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  3. "Smyrna Baptist Church, Allendale County (S.C. Hwy. 22, Allendale vicinity)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  4. "Erwin House, Allendale County (off U.S. Hwy. 301, Allendale vicinity)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  5. "Barnwell, South Carolina, United States records". FamilySearch. June 5, 1849. Retrieved April 19, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)