Bluffton in Beaufort County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Campbell Chapel A.M.E.
Photographed By Glen Umberger, January 11, 2023
1. Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Marker, Side One
Built in 1853, this was originally Bluffton Methodist Episcopal church. Organized by whites, the church's 216 members in 1861 included 181 African Americas, who were likely enslaved to its white congregants. The church caught fire during the Civil War but survived. By 1874, local freed people began worshiping here as an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church eventually known as Campbell Chapel.
Campbell Chapel was part of a wave of Reconstruction-era AME churches organized to serve southern African Americans' spiritual and educational needs. In 1875, it was one of two churches in the AME Bluffton Mission, which had 190 members. Since altered several times, the building was first purchased by nine founding trustees for $500. Campbell Chapel congregants worshipped here until 2004.
Erected 2020 by A Call to Action, Inc. (Marker Number 7-64.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.
Location. 32° 14.147′ N, 80° 51.652′ W. Marker is in Bluffton, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on Boundary Street
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Burning of Bluffton (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bluffton (about 700 feet away); Bluffton United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Church of the Cross (approx. 0.3 miles away); Michael C. Riley Schools (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cyrus Garvin/Cyrus Garvin House (approx. half a mile away); Palmetto Bluff (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named Palmetto Bluff (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bluffton.
Photographed By Glen Umberger, January 11, 2023
2. Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Marker, Side Two
Photographed By Glen Umberger, January 11, 2023
3. Campbell Chapel A.M.E.
Photographed By Glen Umberger, March 23, 2023
4. Campbell Chapel A.M.E.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2023, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 21, 2023, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on March 23, 2023, by Glen Umberger of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
