Ministry to the Military

International Offices

SC Church of God State Offices

Mission SC

Historic Elmwood Avenue Church of God had its beginning in 1920 becoming the first Pentecostal church in Columbia. 

A small group of men and women began having services in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Finklea in Granby Village.

After moving to South Gregg Street the church was set in order by the State Overseer, W. H. Cross.


In 1937, during the pastorate of Wade H. Horton, the church moved to South Main Street.

In 1951 this property was sold and the congregation worshiped in a tent for a short period of time while construction began on a new church building on Elmwood Avenue at Bull Street.

In May 1952, under the leadership of Reverend O. B. Graham, the congregation moved into the present church building.

A new multi-purpose building was constructed behind the main sanctuary in 1989. This building houses administrative and ministry offices, classrooms, a commercial kitchen and gymnasium.

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Construction was recently completed connecting the two existing buildings.  The new addition includes a welcome center, choir suite, expanded office area, Women’s Ministries resource center,  new baptistry as well as an elevator accessing all four levels.  The sanctuary has also been retrofitted to include an expanded balcony providing additional seating for approximately 150 bringing the total seating capacity to almost 600.

Several churches have been organized from the Elmwood Avenue Church with seventeen Church of God congregations now meeting in the Columbia Area. Elmwood Avenue also serves as the office for the District Overseer of the Columbia District Churches of God.

Still a vibrant and growing congregation, the Church of God on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Bull Street remains Columbia's only downtown Pentecostal church.

Rev. E. M. Mortenson

 Rev. Wade H. Horton