Bethel A.M.E. Church, Columbia

Located on Sumter Street in Columbia, South Carolina, Bethel A.M.E. Church is a significant historical and architectural landmark, embodying both the spiritual and cultural contributions of African Americans in the early 20th century. Built in 1921, this monumental structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The church is a prime example of Romanesque Revival architecture and was designed by John Anderson Lankford, one of the first registered African American architects in the United States. Lankford, who also served as the official architect of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was known for his technical training in engineering and construction arts.

Architecturally, Bethel A.M.E. Church features a rectangular brick form with a gabled roof and two asymmetrical towers on its front façade. The north tower rises three stages above the basement and includes a tripartite stained glass window, an open belfry with arched openings, and a steep pyramidal roof. The south tower stands two stages tall and echoes the Romanesque details. The center of the façade is dominated by a large round-arched window composed of three stained glass arches and decorative roundels, crowned by a semicircular arch and flanked by a louvered vent near the gable.

Although religious services are no longer held within its walls, the church remains a symbolic space. It now serves a broader mission: to act as a spiritual center open to all who believe in God, honoring its legacy while embracing a wider community.

Bethel A.M.E. Church stands as a testament to African American achievement in architecture, faith, and community resilience.