Bethsaida Baptist Church was founded in 1831 at a site very near the present building. The church was first led by Elder Kedar Hawthorne. The present church building was built between 1858 and 1860 on land donated by Dr. William Gulley and Edmond Hobdy. It was originally a simple front-gabled church with a pared-down Greek Revival portico. Later, in the Victorian era, the building was enlarged or embellished by adding a stair tower projecting from the front façade, along with Gothic arches over a central door and three windows, and also a steeple.
In 2021, the Bethsaida Baptist Church underwent a complete restoration. The church remains an active congregation and continues to host Christmas in Furman each December.
This church is a contributing property to the Furman Historic District that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Bethsaida Baptist Church is located in Furman on CR 59 approximately 0.6 mile north of the intersection of CR 59 and Hwy 21 (Google Maps: 32.009295, -86.971142).
The pictures that are provided were taken August 2010 and February 2017.
Sources: 1) Wilcox Historical Society; 2) NRHP “Furman Historic District” Registration Form.