Built in 1842, it was originally the Second Baptist Church. In 1866, African American members of Trinity Methodist Church bought it for $20,000 in gold from the Baptists and gave it its present name. In its congregation were many members of Charleston’s African American upper class including the Westons, Wilsons, Johnsons, Millses, Browns, Sasportases, Hamptons, McKinlays, Ransiers, Holloways, Ryans, and Wigfalls. These were among the wealthiest black families in Charleston. Congregation member Septima Poinsett Clark, renowned educator and NAACP civil rights leader, conducted citizenship schools for Dr. Martin Luther King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference here.

KEYWORDS: NATIONAL REGISTER, SEPTIMA CLARK, CIVIL RIGHTS, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, CHARLESTON, GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR