Name | Salem Black River PRESBYTERIAN [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] | |
Born | 1759 [2] | |
Gender | Female | |
HIST | Date Published: October 18, 2009 Sumter's Brick Church turns 250 Photo Provided Salem Black River Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 250th anniversary on Oct. 24 and 25. The establishment of the church predates that of Sumter. By IVY MOORE Item Features Editor ivym@theitem.com Just north of Dabbs Crossroads in the eastern part of Sumter County stands an imposing red brick building marking the site where Presbyterians have held church services for two and a half centuries. The current building is 163 years old, but early Scotch-Irish settlers built the original Salem Black River Presbyterian Church in 1759. That's 50 years before the establishment of the city of Sumter. On Saturday and Oct. 25, the congregation and friends will celebrate the church's 250th anniversary with a series of events and a special service. "The public is cordially invited," lifelong member Louise Dabbs Bevan said, "and we hope they will attend some and, hopefully, all of the celebration events on both the 24th and 25th. Everything is free. We even have some confirmations from friends as far away as North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee and possibly Oregon. These are people whose ancestors are buried here and who have long ties with former families of this community." On Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. there will be storytelling, period music, an artifacts display and tours of the church and cemetery. Lunch will be available on the grounds from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and music will be provided by bagpipers. The Goodwill Presbyterian Choir will sing at 2:15 p.m. and will be followed by Dr. Joe Stukes' presentation of "I, John Calvin ... ." Sunday's special service begins at 2:45 p.m. with opening voluntaries by brass and organ, followed by the regular order of service with special guests from other area Presbyterian churches and the recognition of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church's "daughter churches," Concord, Goodwill, Lynchburg, Mayesville, New Harmony and Sardinia Presbyterian churches. Item File Photo The interior of 250-year-old "Brick Church," is described as Basilican -- an early Christian church layout -- with heart pine floors, walls and ceilings of plaster, a slave gallery along three sides, supported by wooden pillars. Wooden, boxed pews are divided into four sections by side aisles, and the pulpit and altar tables are built on a podium. Dr. T. Erskine Clarke will speak on the topic, "So Great a Crowd of Witnesses." Clarke is professor emeritus of American Religious History at Columbia Theological Seminary. In great demand as a lecturer at churches and universities around the world, Clarke's primary scholarly interest has focused on religion and slavery in the American South, about which he has published numerous respected articles and books. His "Wrestlin' Jacob" was selected by Choice magazine of the American Library Association as an Academic Book of the Year, and "Our Southern Zion" received the Francis Makemie Award from the Presbyterian Historical Society as "the most outstanding published book-length contribution to the American Presbyterian or Reformed history." Clarke's most recent work is "Dwelling Place: A Plantation Epic," which has been described as an "upstairs-downstairs" history of a white, slave-owning family and of a black slave family over four generations. The history of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church began long before the construction of the present Greek Revival-style building. Three others preceded it. The first was made of logs, but was too small, so a second, larger church was constructed in 1768. Burned during the Revolutionary War, it was replaced by a brick building, which stood until 1846, when it was easier and less expensive to replace than to repair it. According to records from the National Register of Historic Places, Salem Black River Presbyterian Church, known to many simply as "Brick Church," "is rectangular in plan, measuring approximately 45 feet wide and 75 feet long. (It) ...is constructed of hand-made brick in common bond and features a low gable roof covered by standing seam terne." Additionally, the front has four "massive stucco-over-brick columns of a simplified Greek Doric order." The two pairs of single-paneled doors have windows above them and flank a large central window. Inside, the plan is described as basilican — an early Christian church layout — with heart pine floors, walls and ceilings of plaster, a slave gallery along three sides, supported by wooden pillars. Wooden, boxed pews are divided into four sections by side aisles, and the pulpit and altar tables are built on a podium. The Session House, constructed at the same time, is about 15 feet by 30 feet and is simple in design, divided into two rooms. The church cemetery is enclosed by an iron fence. While the buildings and grounds of Brick Church are impressive, it is the church's role in the surrounding area that is the main reason for the anniversary celebration. "Brick Church, with an annual budget of approximately $18,000, has been noted for its generous annual giving, percentage-wise, to community and other causes," Bevan said, "as well as its annual commitment to the Presbytery. The past list includes $6,000 for Katrina victims, support of United Ministries, Presbyterian medical fund, Presbyterian Homes in South Carolina, Thornwell Home for Children, support of restoring the historic Goodwill School building (our daughter church), Salvation Army and others. The list reflects current concerns of members and the amount is voted on during our annual business meeting. We also offer an endowed scholarship program for students studying organ to help alleviate the shortage of organists." Membership at Brick Church has varied, with its largest recorded congregation listed at 54 whites and 141 blacks in 1842. Bevan said the church currently has 39 members on the rolls, "many of them living in distant places, so usually there are 15 to 20 persons present for our Sunday service." Brick Church holds services twice a month, at 4 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays. Dr. William Holmes of Manning serves as supply pastor. Among Brick Church's prominent members were James W. English (1797-1841), an elder in the church who later served in the S.C. House of Representatives and the S.C. Senate; Matthew Peterson Mayes (1794-1878), also a member of the S.C. House and a signer of the Ordinance of Secession; and James McBride Dabbs (1896-1970), one of the South's most distinguished 20th-century writers, teachers, social philosophers and civil rights leaders. Salem Black River Presbyterian Church is also recognized as the mother church of several nearby Presbyterian churches. According to church records, both blacks and whites met together in the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church — blacks in the balcony and whites downstairs — until 1867, when blacks asked to be dismissed to form their own church, Goodwill Presbyterian, located nearby. Accused shooter had list of other black churches in car THE POST AND COURIER Homeland Security patrols the streets outside the Federal Courthouse in Charleston during Dylann Roof's trial. Roof, a white man, is accused of killing nine black people at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. Posted Tuesday, December 13, 2016 6:00 am BY MEG KINNARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHARLESTON - When he was arrested, the man accused of killing nine people during a Bible study in a Charleston church had a list of other area black churches in his car, law enforcement officials testified on Monday. During roughly two hours on the stand, former State Law Enforcement Division agent Brittany Burke testified that names of a handful of other churches and their addresses were found on a handwritten list in a backpack in Dylann Roof's car. Also on papers found in Roof's car were phone numbers for the Statehouse complex in Columbia, as well as the name of Denmark Vesey, one of the founders of Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. Vesey led a failed 1822 slave rebellion that drove the church underground. After the plot was reported, Vesey was hanged, and the church was burned. The church was rebuilt, but in 1834, all black churches were banned and members worshipped "underground" until 1865, when Emanuel AME Church was formally reorganized. Burke is one of the state agents who processed evidence found in Roof's car when he was arrested after the June 2015 shootings at the church known as Mother Emanuel. A jury began last week hearing testimony against Roof, 22, who is on trial on 33 federal charges, including hate crimes and obstruction of the practice of religion. Roof has formally entered a not guilty plea to all the charges in federal court. But his attorneys have said he's willing to change that to guilty if prosecutors agree not to seek the death penalty against him. In his videotaped, two-hour confession played for jurors last week, Roof told FBI agents he left bullets in a magazine so that he could kill himself after the slayings but changed his mind when he didn't see any police immediately after the shooting. "Oh no. I was worn out," Roof said, when an agent asked if he thought about killing more black people. Evidence shown in photographs introduced Monday showed Roof was essentially living in his car. Recovered from his black sedan were multiple items of clothing, food, beverages and an empty liquor bottle. There were also multiple travel brochures, a cellphone, laptop computer and a burned American flag. Prosecutors also questioned a witness who detailed the process of Roof's gun purchase. Ronnie Thrailkill, manager of Shooter's Choice in West Columbia, testified that a typical background check was done on Roof when he came in to buy a Glock .45-caliber handgun in April 2015, two months before the shootings. At that time, Thrailkill testified, Roof filled out the standard paperwork required by federal law and left to wait out a three-day waiting period to allow time for background checks. States can add more time onto that window, but no such efforts have passed the state Legislature. Roof had been arrested for drugs two months earlier, but Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon told The Associated Press after the shootings that a jail clerk had entered incorrect information that wasn't ever fixed in a state database. When Roof sought to buy the gun, an FBI examiner spotted the arrest but because of the error called the wrong agency to get his record. Without the necessary documents, the purchase had to go through after three days, and Roof came back for his gun. Victims' families are suing the FBI for negligence in allowing the sale. FBI Director James Comey has said Roof should have never been allowed to buy the gun and promised a full review. Federal prosecutors have said they could wrap up their case as early as Wednesday. Acknowledging the role of Roof in the shootings, his defense team has been more focused on the penalty phase of the trial that will determine whether Roof faces life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. Open invite to Brick Church Christmas The historic Salem Black River Presbyterian Church has been celebrating Christmas with a special service for 256 years. It will present a service of lessons and carols this Sunday. The present structure, shown here, is also known as Brick Church. The congregation invites the public to its special 3 p.m. service and a reception following. PHOTO PROVIDED Posted Wednesday, December 14, 2016 6:00 am BY IVY MOORE IVY@THEITEM.COM For its 257th Christmas service, the congregation of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church will open its doors to the public Sunday. The 3 p.m. service, traditionally held at the historic church on the Sunday before Christmas, will comprise readings from scripture alternating with carols in a program of Lessons and Carols. Choir director and organist William Scobee said the annual service began several years ago when he was asked to have "some special music appropriate to the season. We had young people associated with the church - grandchildren especially - to sing a solo or do a reading." The church, also known as Brick Church, has a small mature membership now, Scobee said, with few vocalists available to sing. He is also choir director at St. James Lutheran Church, where he said, "I have a small but dedicated choir ... that works hard weekly to produce beautiful music for our services." As the choir has worked very hard on its Advent and Christmas anthems, which would normally be heard only once, Scobee said he thought "Why not share them with another congregation? The choir eagerly accepted the proposition," as did the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church membership. "Christmas at Brick Church" combines the service of Lessons and Carols with the church's regular worship service. Choir music will include Camille Saint-Saens' "Praise Ye the Lord of Hosts," Joseph Martin's "A Joyful Magnificat," Kenneth Dake's "Prepare the Way, O Zion" and several more. The congregation will join the choir in singing the carols "Angels from the Realm of Glory," "The First Noel" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Scobee said Sunday's service offers not just a chance to celebrate Christmas with inspiring music and scriptural readings, but also the opportunity to worship in one of the area's most historic churches, which he said has "wonderful acoustics." Brenda Remmes Bevan, a longtime member of Brick Church provided a brief history: "This historic building located on (S.C.) 527 just two miles north of (U.S.) 378 stands as a reminder of the first Scottish-Irish settlers who came to the area in the 1750s and named their community Salem. At the center they built a log structure they called Salem Black River Meeting House. The term 'meeting house' continued to exist until the break with the Anglican Church in 1768 allowed the word 'church' to redefine the building. The present structure was erected of brick in 1846, and henceforth the church became known to many as Brick Church." Scobee added, "Set in the historic church, bringing these carols and hearing these anthems cannot but lift hearts to the meaning of this season." George G. Wilkes III, minister of Manning Presbyterian Church, will conduct the 3 p.m. service to which the public is invited. A reception will follow. Pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, 1137 Alice Drive, is the Rev. Keith Getz. Brick Church made Roof's hit list Shooter may have targeted Mayesville house of worship Evidence presented in the Dylann Roof murder trial includes an alleged hand-written list of churches — including Salem Black Presbyterian Church in Mayesville — Roof was considering to use to start a race war. PHOTO PROVIDED BY POST AND COURIER Posted Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:00 am BY JIM HILLEY JIM@THEITEM.COM The cold-blooded killing of nine people at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, shocked the nation. As evidence is presented in the trial of accused killer Dylann Roof in Charleston, chilling details have emerged about Roof's alleged plans to kill black people. Prosecutors presented a list of other churches Roof had written in a notebook, saying he may have considered them as possible sites to launch his attempt to stir a race war. Among those listed is the historic Salem Black River Church, also known as the "Brick Church," at 1060 Brick Church Road near Mayesville. The Salem Black River Church is one of the oldest in South Carolina, and the present church has stood almost unaltered since it was built in 1846, according to a nomination form submitted to the National Historic Register. It achieved the historical designation in 1978. Louise Bevan has attended services at the stately church for at least 75 of her 90 years, she said, and has been clerk at the church. "Good gosh, I hadn't heard the information," she said when contacted by The Sumter Item. "How am I supposed to respond to that? "The guy is sick," she added. She said she had never seen him in the area, and he has never visited the church. "He's certainly never been in church because I have never missed a Sunday," Bevan said. "We are way out in the country, so I don't know why he would pick us," Bevan said. Roof, who allegedly said he wanted to kill black people to start a race war, apparently did not research the history of the Salem Black River Church very well. Otherwise he would have known the congregation has been predominantly white since members of the church helped construct Goodwill Presbyterian Church for former slaves in 1867. Salem Black River Church only holds services twice a month Bevan said, and there are only about 15 people in the congregation. George Wilkes, the minister from First Presbyterian in Manning officiates the ceremonies, she said. "He (Roof) wouldn't get enough publicity unless he killed the whole congregation practically," she said. "We have a very small congregation, but we are 257 years old." Current church clerk Dick Dabbs said he was baffled that Roof might have targeted the church. "I don't know, it's sort of odd," Dabbs said. Dabbs said he can't understand why Roof would want to target the church. "Other than the fact it is a historical church," he said. "I am at a loss," Dabbs added. "What are we to say," Bevan said. "I don't know how to respond." [2, 4, 5, 6] | |
_UID | 0E74A8EFAC014ACDBA09AFEDB0845A2FF92C | |
Person ID | I247303 | Singleton and other families |
Last Modified | 1 Oct 2017 |
Family | Brick CHURCH, b. 1759 | |
_UID | 1682B7E338ED44BFA83025CB2DEA1EE037A8 | |
Last Modified | 2 Mar 2024 | |
Family ID | F166981 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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