Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina senator who died on July 11, 2026, at age 71, was a devout Southern Baptist and a longtime member of Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, South Carolina, where he was baptized and remained connected throughout his political career.
Graham openly identified as a Christian throughout his life and was known for his deep commitment to his faith, even as he maintained one of the most prominent roles in the U.S. Senate. According to his pastor, Tim Tate, Graham “professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior” and was baptized at Corinth, the church he called home.
Corinth Baptist Church, located in Graham’s hometown of Seneca, was founded in 1884 and served as his spiritual anchor throughout his 23-year Senate career. Tate reflected on their friendship, noting that Graham’s defining characteristic was his unwavering love for America. “One thing that stands really out to me is his love for America,” Tate said. “I was blessed to be able to talk to him and know him and be friends with him, and one thing he always wanted to talk about was his country.”
Despite his high-profile political role, Graham maintained a relatively modest church attendance. In 2022, during a Senate confirmation hearing, he stated that he attended church about three times a year, a frequency he acknowledged even as he questioned Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on her own faithfulness. His Southern Baptist beliefs shaped his social conservatism; he consistently opposed abortion access and voted against same-sex marriage protections, though he maintained that marriage policy should be left to individual states.
One of Graham’s final public appearances before his death was at First Baptist Church of Columbia on July 4, 2026, where he spoke at the Southern Baptist congregation’s “Carolina Celebration of Liberty.” At that event, he joked about his church attendance and praised Baptists for their ability to “sing and dance,” drawing laughter and extended applause from the audience. He spoke of the Founding Fathers and their commitment to preventing tyranny, themes that had animated his political career.
Graham was one of five Southern Baptists serving in the current U.S. Senate at the time of his death. His pastor emphasized that their final conversations often ended in prayer, with Tate praying for “wisdom and knowledge and discernment” for the senator. Graham’s faith remained a consistent thread throughout his life, even as his political positions and alliances evolved over the decades.
Sources
- Beliefnet — Graham’s religious identity, baptism at Corinth, and biographical details including his death on July 11, 2026
- Baptist News Global — Graham’s final public appearance at First Baptist Church Columbia on July 4, 2026; his statement about attending church three times a year; confirmation he was one of five Southern Baptists in the Senate; pastor Tim Tate’s reflections
- NewsNation — Confirmation of Graham’s Southern Baptist identity and membership at Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca
- Baptist Press — Graham’s baptism at Corinth Baptist Church and pastor Tim Tate’s statement about his love for America
- Washington Post — Corinth Baptist Church founded in 1884 and Graham’s worship there
- Christian Post — Graham’s membership and faith practices at Corinth Baptist Church
