Name | Concord PRESBYTERIAN [1] | |
Born | 1809 [1] | |
Gender | Male | |
HIST | Date Published: October 5, 2009 Concord Presbyterian celebrates bicentennial Belton White / The Item The Rev. Ed Wilkes, of Lexington, plays "Highland Cathedral" as he enters Concord Prebyterian Church on Sunday for its bicentennial homecoming service. By BELTON WHITE Item Staff Writer bwhite@theitem.com It was a celebration 200 years in the making for Concord Presbyterian Church to join its former ministers, its first pastor's descendants and its church members on Sunday. The church celebrated its bicentennial homecoming this weekend with a special worship service at 1:30 p.m. in the church's sanctuary at 3350 E. Brewington Road, just off U.S. 378 east of Sumter. The weekend activities began with a luncheon on Saturday, and a picnic supper was served that evening, complete a birthday cake and the singing of "Happy Birthday." "It just seemed like the right thing to do," said the Rev. Jim Braswell, the church pastor. "It was sort of cheesy, but I think it did good." Sunday dinner was served before the celebration, complete with barbecue, hash and rice and other assorted dishes prepared by church members at the newly named Bicentennial Hall. The church's Family Life Center was finished in August 2007 but was renamed to mark the anniversary. Cookbooks, coffee mugs and Christmas tree ornaments are being sold to commemorate the milestone and to finishing paying off the fellowship center's debt. The service started with "Highland Cathedral" being played on the bagpipes, with six ministers from neighboring churches congratulating the congregation on its anniversary. Seven special guests were recognized at the service as being descendants of the church's first pastor, the Rev. George G. McWhorter, who was also serving several other Presbyterian churches in the area. "Concord Presbyterian Church came into existence because of the fortitude and dedication of the McWhorter family," Braswell said. Braswell credited McWhorter with starting the church back in the spring of 1808, when church members began under a brush arbor built near the Concord Spring, and he presented the family with a plaque marking the anniversary. The church was eventually chartered in 1809. The Rev. William Albert, a former pastor at Concord, gave a sermon asking the congregation to follow God's future plans for the church while also celebrating its past. "God could have put you in this world at any time, but he chose you now, for this time," he said. "He could have chosen anyone to minister to the world, but he came down and he chose you." For its longtime members, the church has been a rock throughout their lives. S.L. "Sonny" Montgomery Jr., 85, said he remembers riding to church in his grandfather's buggy. He has been a member since he was 12. "The church has been good to me. It has brought me through hard times," he said. "People need something to lean on, and the church is that place." Contact Staff Writer Belton White at bwhite@theitem.com or (803) 774-1295. [1] | |
_UID | 1AD7C92CCB674A18967F666FE59F157370E6 | |
Person ID | I246886 | Singleton and other families |
Last Modified | 15 Oct 2009 |
Family | Concord Presbyterian SUMTER | |
_UID | 3B2BDE41EF6F4C42BC9A1F085709E0A3D1BB | |
Last Modified | 2 Mar 2024 | |
Family ID | F166703 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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