Berea Baptist Church was officially founded in Dec. 1843, though local tradition holds that its earliest meetings were held under a brush arbor in the yard of Isham J. Ward. The name Berea derives from Acts 17: 10-11, said to have been part of the first sermon delivered by Rev. Samuel Gibson, and the church later gave its name to the surrounding area. Dr. James C. Furman, first president of Furman University, became pastor in 1862 and served three separate terms until his death in 1891. A second sanctuary was built in 1892, the church was renamed Berea First Baptist Church in 1965 to distinguish it from other Baptist congregations, and the current church building dates to 1976.