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A Brief History of the
Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island
Meeting since before 1695 and formally established in 1710, this is one
of the
earliest Presbyterian
congregations in South Carolina.
The historic Sanctuary
built in 1831 at a cost of $6,000, was constructed
by a Mr. Pillans who received a bonus for completing work early.
The original architect is unknown but some believe it was Robert Mills,
the South Carolina born architect who designed the Washington Monument.
If not designed by Mills many of the features are flattering imitations.
This Greek Revival Structure is an island landmark.
(Note: the steeple and front columns were not original but were added in
1836.)
The elevated pulpit bears a striking resemblance to a design by Mills
for another area church that was never built. A previous
sanctuary
was located across the highway, which also featured box pews, an elevated
pulpit,
and a slave gallery. All of those design features were incorporated
into the current Sanctuary.
Our earliest church records were destroyed in Columbia during the
Revolutionary war where they had been sent for safekeeping.
We are indebted to a Baptist historian who reports that a colony of
Baptists
came to Edisto from Port Royal (Beaufort) in 1685 and found Presbyterians
already worshiping here. Where they worshiped is unknown. The current
property
was donated to the church in 1717 as part of a 300
acre gift by Henry Bower.
Henry Ashworth, who visited in 1857, left this account of a communion
service:
"The congregation was large and the great bulk were slaves. At the
communion table
I saw about 200 slaves and about half that number of white persons. The
same Minister
the same Deacons or Elders officiated in like manner to all present, and
the solemnity and
decorum observed was alike throughout.
The graveyard also has a story to tell. Tombstones and mausoleums are
works of art
that reveal Edisto's past. Names like Mikell, Whaley, McConkey, Pope,
Bailey,
Baynard and Murray are sprinkled
liberally throughout the grounds. Five former pastors are in the
graveyard including the Rev. William States Lee, the longest serving
pastor in our church history.
Following the Civil War the white congregation returned to the island
to find former slaves worshiping in the Church. Upon petition to the
federal authorities the whites reclaimed the church property and the
freed
slaves withdrew to form their own separate congregation, The
Edisto Presbyterian Church, which is still in existence.
The small session house remains, currently used as a prayer building. Built to house member's contentious
discussions without profaning the Sanctuary itself,
later it housed
various Bible study classes. The building itself was
constructed before before 1800.
The history of this congregation
continues to be made with the continuing missions of the Church and the
successful restoration of the Sanctuary. With your help we shall be
equally successful in
restoring and renovating the historic Manse.
Partial Source: Edisto Island Historic
Preservation Society
2004 Tour Booklet
and docent notes
to the manse restoration fund |
