Trenton in Edgefield County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Mt. Canaan Baptist Church

Photographed by Brian Scott, October 10, 2008

1. Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker - Front

Inscription. [Front]:
This church, founded in 1868, was one of the first black Baptist churches in this area. Alexander Bettis (1836-1895), a former slave, established this church with the assistance of three white ministers after the local Baptist association refused to ordain him. Mt. Canaan grew from seventeen charter members to more than 2,000 members in only three years.

[Reverse]:
This was the first of forty churches Rev. Alexander Bettis organized in Edgefield and Aiken Counties. He also founded Bettis academy in 1881. He served Mt. Canaan and three other area churches until his death in 1895, and is buried here. early services were held in a brush arbor. The original frame sanctuary was replaced by the present brick sanctuary in 1961.

Erected 2004 by Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Congregation. (Marker Number 19-16.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.

Location. 33° 40.117′ N, 81° 52.717′ W. Marker is in Trenton, South Carolina, in Edgefield County. It is on Edgefield Road (U.S. 25). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2451 Edgefield Road, Trenton SC 29847, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Augusta

and in the Midlands.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other

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markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bettis Academy (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Bettis Academy (approx. 1.3 miles away); 12 Stone Monument (approx. 1.3 miles away); Horn's Creek Church (approx. 4.9 miles away); Horns Creek Baptist Church / Revolutionary Skirmish at Horns Creek (approx. 4.9 miles away); Darby (approx. 5.7 miles away); Benjamin R. Tillman House (approx. 5.7 miles away); Marie Cromer Seigler House (approx. 6.8 miles away); Farm Bell (approx. 8 miles away); John Gary Evans (approx. 8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trenton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Graniteville Academy (was approx. 7.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker - Reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brian Scott, October 10, 2008

2. Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker - Reverse

Photographed by Brian Scott, October 10, 2008

3. Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker - Front

Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker, seen looking north along Edgefield Road (U.S. 25). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2011

4. Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker, seen looking north along Edgefield Road (U.S. 25).

Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker, looking south along Edgefield Road (U.S. 25). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2011

5. Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Marker, looking south along Edgefield Road (U.S. 25).

Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,001 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 21, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4, 5. submitted on September 26, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.