Founded in 1786 and originally known as the Black Swamp Baptist Church, this congregation was a stalwart member of the Savannah River Baptist Association for the better part of two centuries. Little is known of its first two church buildings, but its third edifice, erected in 1825, presented an imposing appearance in keeping with the church's significance. By some estimates, the church at its antebellum pinnacle of influence produced as many as 50 white and 100 black ministers. When General Sherman's army passed through Robertville, South Carolina, in January 1865, however, they burned the church and the rest of the village to the ground. Black Swamp's congregation endured, re-erecting the present church building, which was purchased from nearby Gillisonville, on the same site. Despite some lean years in the early twentieth century, the congregation, today known as the Robertville Baptist Church, remains active as an integral part of the Jasper and Hampton County communities. In this comprehensive history, regional historian Eric Plaag explores the church's past, weaving an engaging tale of survival, perseverance, faith, and rebirth. (Charley House Press, in print October 2021)