Name | SPRING HILL [1] | |
Born | 1799 [1] | |
Gender | Male | |
HIST | Spring Hill church celebrates 211 years Posted: Friday, October 29, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 11:25 pm, Thu Oct 28, 2010. BY RANDY BURNS Special to The Item BISHOPVILLE - One of Lee County's oldest churches is celebrating homecoming on Halloween. St. John United Methodist Church in Spring Hill will celebrate 211 years of tradition and history with a special service beginning at 11 a.m. Following the worship service, the church will have a covered dish dinner on the grounds. At 1:30 p.m., a gospel concert featuring the Praisemen of Lee County will be presented in the sanctuary. The last homecoming for St. John took place in October 1999 with the church's 200th birthday celebration, according to pastor Vince Halter. Halter played a key role in the church's 200th birthday homecoming, having become the pastor of the Rembert United Methodist charge in June 1999. The Rembert charge consists of St. John, McLeod Chapel in Sumter County and Beulah in Kershaw County. "It's fifth Sunday, and that's when our three churches (of the charge) always come together," Halter said. "It's been 11 years since St. John has had homecoming, and we thought this would be a good time to have it." A devastating fire in Feb. 1985 destroyed the church building, but that event seemed to serve as a revival for the congregation, according to Marion McClary Jr. "The fire drew people back to the church who had not been involved," he said. "People were not going to let the church die just because a fire destroyed the building." McClary said he is always impressed by the passion people feel for their home church on Spring Hill. "It's hard to believe the connections our church has with people all over the country," he said. "We're one of the oldest churches in the area. And almost any time I'm out at the church mowing the grass or working, someone will come by to visit the cemetery. St. John is very important to so many people. And homecoming is a time for people to come. We are going to have a ball Sunday. And we'll have plenty of room. Don't worry about that." Becky White, whose late husband, Doug White, was born and raised in the church, said she is looking forward to reuniting with families and friends. "It's amazing the number of people who are connected to St. John," she said. "A lot of people come through a church when you're 211 years old. Homecoming is a special time, and we are looking forward to a special day on Sunday." Halter said members of St. John have been working hard in advance of Sunday's homecoming. "We have sent personal invitations to more than 100 people who signed the guest book at the 2000 homecoming," Halter said. "Members of the church provided the addresses, and we only had two invitations to come back. And that's amazing. You know, you look at our graveyard and you'll find some of the original members of St. John. This church has a proud and important history. We feel like that Sunday is going to be a very special day in the life of our church." St. John came into being in 1799 after Kipsey and Bill Belvin attended a camp meeting at Rembert Chapel, located about seven miles from Spring Hill. It was Kipsey, aka Granny, who dreamed of having a church closer to her home in Spring Hill. It wasn't long after that her husband deeded four acres to St. John's Church. A shed-type room 55-feet long was built for members who came from Rembert, Pisgah and Woodrow. Isaac Richbourg, Col. Boykin and Henry White were the first board members. The original shed-type room survived the Civil War skirmish at Spring Hill on April 16, 1865, between Union general Ed Potter and Confederate Col. James F. Pressley. In 1876, the original structure burned and members rebuilt it from hand-hewn pine logs. That building served members until 1912 when a new church was constructed in just 90 days under the leadership of Rev. E.P. Hutson. L.A. White and seven others signed the mortgage note in the amount of $2,800. WANT TO GO? St. John United Methodist Church Intersection of Spring Hill and Stuckeytown roads Homecoming 2010 Sunday, worship service 11 a.m.; dinner-on-the-ground, noon; and gospel concert at 1:30 p.m. Posted in News, Local news on Friday, October 29, 2010 [1] | |
_UID | AF4FD287078A4C1AB8DE87EA9BD6A869D741 | |
Person ID | I260609 | Singleton and other families |
Last Modified | 8 Nov 2010 |
Family | Spring Hill CHURCH | |
_UID | 5BC156794BB54EE393DB14DE030C7A393EEA | |
Last Modified | 2 Mar 2024 | |
Family ID | F175638 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Sources |
|