Cross Keys in Union County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
1. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Marker - Front
The second sanctuary, a frame building, was completed nearby about 1810. This sanctuary, described as "elegant and commodious" by an early church historian, was built 1844-48. It was enlarged by the addition of a portico and steeple in 1958. The church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Erected 2004 by Congregation of Padgett's Creek Baptist Church. (Marker Number 44-9.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1784.
Location. 34° 37.433′ N, 81° 44.667′ W. Marker is in Cross Keys, South Carolina, in Union County. Marker is on Old Buncombe Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the church
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Cross Keys House (approx. 1.8 miles away); Gist Cemetery (approx. 4 miles away); Battle of Blackstock’s (approx. 4.4 miles away); Fairforest Meeting (approx. 4.6 miles away); Rose Hill Mansion (approx. 4.7 miles away); Fair Forest Plantation / Emslie Nicholson House (approx. 5.1 miles away); Battle of Blackstock (approx. 5½ miles away); The Trap Is Sprung (approx. 6.2 miles away); Captain Shadrach Inman Memorial (approx. 6.2 miles away); Ready for the Enemy (approx. 6.2 miles away).
Also see . . . Padgett's Creek Baptist Church. Built in 1844, Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church is important for detailed manual craftsmanship in its primary construction and for appropriate additions and alterations that have maintained the building’s architectural integrity. (Submitted on November 8, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
2. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Marker - Reverse
1. Rev. John Padgett
I am a descendant of Rev. John Padgett. He moved to the Chester Co. SC area after the RW in which he fought. It appears that his parents and his brothers came with John after the War to this area. I am trying to reconstruct his family history and the name Padgett Creek caught my attention. Is there a connection to my family?
I know that in 1790 John was enumerated on the 1790 Chester Co. SC census as having 4 daughters. He had married Cecelia Hollifield here in SC. My ancestor is Lydia Padgett who was born ca 1789 in SC and I have circumstantial evidence that John Padgett is her father.
Are my Padgetts connected with the naming of the Padgett Creek Baptist Church? Are his other three daughters' descendants still living the area? Was my family associated with the Padgett Creek Baptist Church?
John became a Baptist minister about 1811. He moved from Chester Co., SC ca 1795 to Rutherford Co., NC where he remained until his death in 1837. He is written up in Logan's book on the Broad River Association. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
3. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church and Marker
— Submitted July 6, 2009, by E. R. Edmondson of Odessa, Texas.
2. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church
Built in 1844, it appeared as a plain, rectangular two-story building with medium gable roof six bays deep and three bays wide, over slightly raised brick supports.
Interior (with a gallery “for use by colored members”) was unornamented. Foresight used in further additions and interior remodeling have maintained the distinct atmosphere of the church.
A front portion was added to the south side of the original building (the walls of which were redone in clapboard to match the addition). A portico supported by Doric columns and low steeple help to present a graceful, modest house of worship. Interior has been kept basically the same – gallery with balustrade supported by Doric columns, pulpit, and pews – except for the enclosure of portions of the gallery for classrooms.
Extensive adjacent cemetery – one section with Revolutionary War era markers; many Confederate graves.
Significance
Padgett’s Creek Baptist
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
4. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Foyer
It is significant as an upcountry meeting place for discussion of vital civil matters during the Civil War.
Organized November 22, 1784, as Christ Church on the Tyger River. Present name adopted in 1803. First Sunday School held January 2, 1831; became member of Baptist State Convention 1841; Missionary Society organized 1878.
In 1844 construction of a new meeting house began about one mile above the original and finally completed by April 15, 1848.
On August 29, 1851, a Secession Meeting (possibly the first) was held here. Speakers were Senator William H. Gist (later governor of South Carolina) and Congressman Daniel Wallace who advocated “secession rather than submission.”
Its history is singular, for the church provided a special place for Negro members, offering comfort and convenience to all its members. There were Negro members as late as 1872 and their graves may be seen in the cemetery. (Source: National Register nomination form.)
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
5. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Pulpit
3. More About Padgett's Creek Baptist Church
Padgett's Creek Baptist Church was established November 22, 1784, as Tiger River Church. The present building, of white frame with gable roof and simple pedimented portico is the second. Old Church records show earlier congregations forbade marriage on the sabbath, gave Nathan Langston permission "to pray and to exhort when convenient," and appointed Frederick Johnson "to set tunes when called on." (Source: South Carolina: A Guide to the Palmetto State by the Federal Writers Project, pg 403.)
— Submitted August 21, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
4. Padgett’s Creek Church celebrates 225th anniversary
Union Daily Times
by Anna Brown
July 31, 2009
One of Union County’s most historic churches will celebrate another milestone Sunday during its Homecoming service.
Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church is marking its 225th anniversary. Sunday School begins
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
6. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Pulpit
“The church was dedicated when it was organized, it was dedicated when we went into the new sanctuary and the building will be rededicated again that Sunday morning,” she said.
Also on Sunday, a time capsule made by the late Vernon Stevens and buried on Homecoming Sunday on the 200th anniversary will be opened. It will be reburied in November, the official month of the anniversary of the church’s organization in 1784.
History books will be sold for $15 that contain pictures, the church’s history, charter and roll from the beginning of the church until 1830. The present church roll with resident and non-resident members will be included in the book, along with a list of pastors and a timeline with interesting developments and improvements.
Building on work of historian the late Claude Sparks, tombstones not listed in the History Book cemetery index will be included, along with the tombstones of deceased members since the printing of the church history and others interred in the cemetery
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
7. View from the Pulpit
“We started with the minutes beginning in 1784 and we went through to present taking the most important things out of each year,” Mrs. Lawson said.
Mrs. Lawson said after the costs of printing the book are paid, members of the history committee hope to develop a history fund. It would be used to pay for materials such as brochures to coincide with the Union County Historical Society’s placement of Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church on a history trail that includes Rose Hill State Historic Site and the Cross Keys House. Padgett’s Creek, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, is noted for its slave balcony. It was placed on the state historical register in 2004.
The following is a brief history of Padgett’s Creek:
The church was constituted on Nov. 22, 1784, by the Rev. John Webb and the Rev. John Cole as Church of Christ on Tyger River. Barnet Putman and William Wilbanks Sr. were the first deacons.
The church became a member of Bethel Association in 1789 and the name was changed to Padgett’s Creek Meeting. The church worshiped at various places during the early years, one site being
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
8. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Pews From Balcony
A great revival began to spread over the state about 1800 and during this time the church drew its membership from an area at least 12 miles in circumference from the church. It soon became necessary to establish additional places of worship for the convenience of the membership. Arms of the church were established at Fairforest, Tinker Creek, Putnam, New Hope and Dillard’s Meeting House.
The church had a camp meeting in 1849 which lasted two weeks and during this time there were received into the church by experience and baptism 67 white and 11 black members. The Rev. Elijah Ray was pastor during part of 1849, but with this exception the Rev. Thomas Ray was pastor from 1835 to 1854. The church had another big revival in August of 1911 with over 50 members received under the preaching of J.A. Anderson, who was pastor.
In
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
9. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Pew
In 2006 the church purchased the property adjacent to the fellowship building. The choir loft was enlarged in 2007.
Mrs. Lawson said Padgett’s Creek has been a lighthouse for the country community and has held it together with God’s help through good times and bad. She said the church’s records and cemetery are a valuable resource for genealogists.
“We have people come here from most every state in the union and some from overseas looking for their ancestor’s graves knowing this is where they families originated,” she said.
Source: http://www.uniondailytimes.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Padgett%E2%80%99s+Creek+Church+celebrates+225th+anniversary%20&id=3070679-Padgett%E2%80%99s+Creek+Church+celebrates+225th+anniversary&instance=secondary_news_left_column
— Submitted August 21, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
Photographed By Franklin Dale Murphy, October 2, 2012
10. Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church Marker
Land Transfer From John Alexander To Padgett Creek Trustees 1809 S.C. Archives Microfilm
Photographed By Franklin Dale Murphy, October 2, 2012
11. Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church Marker
Land Plat Of Padgett Creek Baptist Church October 1861.Transfer From Z.Phillips,A.Mcphearson And Nancy Mcphearson S.C. Archives Microfilm
Photographed By Franklin Dale Murphy, October 2, 2012
12. Padgett’s Creek Baptist Church Marker
The Plat Represents A Piece Of Land Conveyed To The Baptist Society Or Church At Padgett Creek Meeting House,By John Alexander Sr. And James Richardson. It Was Surveyed January 20,1827, By Wm. White,D.S.. The Recording Was Witnessed By Ambrose Ray And Jessie Alexander. Credits From Claude Sparks Books
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
13. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church and Sign
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
14. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church -
Front (South) Elevation
Front (South) Elevation
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
15. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church -
Side (East) Oblique
Side (East) Oblique
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
16. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church -
Side (West) Oblique
Side (West) Oblique
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
17. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
18. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
19. “Wm. Browning, Colored. Born 1841 Died June 28, 1879.”
“Erected by his former mistress as a token (of his) faithful service... An Honest Man is the Noblest work of God.” Below: “Colored, W. M. Browning, 1841–1879”
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
20. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
Photographed By Wes Cox, October 30, 2010
21. Padgett's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery and Caretaker
Photographed By Brian Scott, November 8, 2008
22. Memorial to the Unmarked
of the
Unmarked
Graves
Erected 2002
by
Padgett's
Creek
Baptist
Church
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 6,535 times since then and 152 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 31, 2010, by Wes Cox of Union, South Carolina. 10, 11, 12. submitted on October 3, 2012, by Franklin Dale Murphy of Boiling Springs, South Carolina. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. submitted on November 9, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 19. submitted on October 31, 2010, by Wes Cox of Union, South Carolina. 20. submitted on November 9, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 21. submitted on October 31, 2010, by Wes Cox of Union, South Carolina. 22. submitted on November 9, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
