The Birthplace of Columbia Theological Seminary historical marker, in Lexington, Georgia, with Lexington Presbyterian Church in the background. Photo courtesy of George Arthur Harwood.

September 14, 2020, Savannah, GA – The Georgia Historical Society today announced the virtual dedication of a new Georgia historical marker for The Birthplace of Columbia Theological Seminary in Lexington, Georgia. In keeping with safety protocols relating to COVID-19 the marker is being highlighted in a first-of-its-kind virtual dedication across all GHS social media platforms and on the web.

The dedication will take place in three parts beginning with this announcement and continuing with a series of blog posts, promotion on social media, and an interview with historian and scholar Erskine Clarke conducted by Stan Deaton, the Dr. Elaine B. Andrews Distinguished Historian at GHS, for his blog Off the Deaton Path that can be accessed on the GHS website and on all social media platforms Thursday, September 17, 2020.

Long associated with its current home in Decatur, Columbia’s founding in Oglethorpe County during the early nineteenth century is less well known. The new historical marker recognizes those early years of establishment and the school’s eventual move to South Carolina (where it gained its current name). Associated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), Columbia has developed one of the region’s leading graduate programs in theological studies.

“We are pleased to be able to dedicate this marker and tell the story of Columbia Theological Seminary,” said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. “By featuring this marker over the course of several days this week on social media and the GHS blog, we hope to showcase it in a way that brings attention to the rich history of Columbia Theological Seminary as well as the importance of historical markers in telling the stories of people and historic events in Georgia.”

“We wanted to get a historical marker because a historical event took place here that had not been adequately recognized, namely, that Columbia Theological Seminary began right here in Lexington and not in Columbia, South Carolina as commonly assumed,” said Rev. Dr. Alex W. Williams of the Lexington Seminary Committee.

For more information about the Columbia Theological Seminary historical marker or the Georgia Historical Society Historical Marker Program please contact Pattye Meagher, GHS Director of Communications, at pmeagher@georgiahistory.com or by cell at 434.996.7085.

The marker reads:

The Birthplace of Columbia Theological Seminary

The Columbia Theological Seminary began here in 1828 when Rev. Thomas Goulding led the effort of the Presbyterian Synod of South Carolina and Georgia to establish a theological seminary. Goulding and the original five students began their studies in Lexington. The Theological Seminary moved to Columbia, South Carolina, in 1830, where it remained under Rev. Goulding’s leadership until he left the school in 1834. First named The Theological Seminary of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, the name was officially changed in 1925 to Columbia Theological Seminary. In 1927 it moved to its current location in Decatur, Georgia. Since its founding, the Seminary has produced many ministers, missionaries, and theologians who have been prominent in the social, political, and religious life of the South.

Erected by the Georgia Historical Society, City of Lexington, Historic Oglethorpe County, Inc., and Columbia Theological Seminary

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Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.

ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) administers Georgia’s historical marker program. Over the past 20 years, GHS has erected nearly 300 new historical markers across the state on a wide variety of subjects. GHS also coordinates the maintenance for more than 2,100 markers installed by the State of Georgia prior to 1998. Online mapping tools allow users to design driving routes based on historical markers, and a mobile app helps visitors locate and learn about markers nearby. Visit georgiahistory.com for more ways to use Georgia’s historical markers and experience history where it happened.