Johnson, William Bullein

William Bullein Johnson, D.D., was South Carolina Baptist leader, minister, educator and author. He was one of the founders of the South Carolina State Baptist Convention and its first president. He was instrumental in the founding of Furman University and is a Charter Member of the Furman University Hall of Fame.

Photograph of a painted portrait of William Bullein Johnson, D.D., who was a South Carolina Baptist leader, minister, educator and author. He was one of the founders of the South Carolina State Baptist Convention and was its first president. He was instrumental in the founding of Furman University and is a Charter Member of the Furman University Hall of Fame.

Vardry McBee donated the land for the city of Greenville’s first four churches. Episcopalians organized St. James Mission (later Christ Church) in 1820. In 1826, nine women and one man organized the Greenville Baptist Church (later First Baptist of Greenville), which is depicted here. The Methodists organized a group in 1834 (later Buncombe Street Church). First Presbyterian was organized in 1848.