First Presbyterian Church, Columbia

The origins of the First Presbyterian Church trace back to 1795, when its initial meetings were held, but it wasn't until 1813 that the congregation had its own building. That same year, the South Carolina Legislature officially incorporated the church as the "First Presbyterian Church of the Town of Columbia," marking its formal establishment.

Before the church had its own building, the site where it now stands was a shared cemetery with the local Episcopal congregation from 1794 to 1813. The legislature allocated this cemetery and other lands to both Episcopalians and Presbyterians, creating a shared space for both congregations. According to local legend, the First Presbyterian Church and the nearby Trinity Episcopal Cathedral determined their respective lots by drawing lots. The Presbyterians received the cemetery at the corner of Lady and Marion Streets, which became the location of their church.

The original 1813 building of the First Presbyterian Church still exists today, known as Jackson Hall. However, the growing congregation necessitated the construction of a larger building, and in 1854, a new English Gothic structure was completed. This new church, spared destruction during General Sherman's march to the sea during the Civil War, faced other challenges.

In 1875, a hurricane destroyed its original 180-foot spire, which was then rebuilt in 1888. Further damage occurred in a 1910 fire, leading to another reconstruction that increased the spire's height by eight feet. A significant remodeling in 1925 expanded the church's capacity from 800 to 1,250, lengthening the building by 40 feet and adding classrooms on the sides, a choir loft at the rear, and a rebuilt organ loft.