Brattonsville in York County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bethesda Presbyterian Church

Photographed by Wes Cox, June 5, 2010

1. Bethesda Presbyterian Church Marker (Side A)

Inscription.
This church, which held services as early as 1760 about 1 mi. E, gave its name to a Scots-Irish community in this area before the Revolution. It was formally organized in 1769 by Rev. William Richardson. In 1771 John Fondren donated land here for a second frame church, built ca. 1780 after the church 1 mi. E burned.

Rev. Robert B. Walker (1766-1852), the first permanent minister, served here 1794-1834. Bethesda hosted many revivals during the Second Great Awakening. The cemetery dates to 1777, and this brick church was built in 1820. The church and cemetery were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Erected 2010 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History, sponsored by the Congregation for its 250th Anniversary, 2010. (Marker Number 46-48.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the South Carolina Historical Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1760.

Location. 34° 53.88′ N, 81° 10.642′ W. Marker is in Brattonsville, South Carolina, in York County

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. It is on McConnells Hwy. (State Highway 322), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4858 McConnells Hwy, Mc Connells SC 29726, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands

and in the Olde English District. 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 original Cherokee Nation,

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 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mt. Zion School (approx. 1.4 miles away); Huck's Defeat (approx. 1.7 miles away); Brattonsville Academy 1840 (approx. 2.2 miles away); Bratton Home (approx. 2.2 miles away); Attack on the British Provincials (approx. 2.2 miles away); Huck's Death (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Combatants (approx. 2.2 miles away); Attack on the Loyalist Militia Camp (approx. 2.2 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. National Register of Historic Places. (Submitted on June 6, 2010, by Wes Cox of Union, South Carolina.)
2. . Information on link is listed under Additional comments. (Submitted on June 6, 2010, by Wes Cox of Union, South Carolina.)

3. South Carolina Department of Archives and History entry for the Bethesda Presbyterian Church. (Submitted on June 14, 2010, by Wes Cox of Union, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. National Register
One of the oldest churches in the South Carolina Upcountry, Bethesda Presbyterian Church is also one of the four original Presbyterian churches in the state’s old York District. A mission (church)

Bethesda Presbyterian Church Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wes Cox, June 5, 2010

2. Bethesda Presbyterian Church Marker (Side B)

is believed to have existed as early as 1760 and Bethesda was formally organized about 1769 or 1770. From 1800 to 1863, the congregation held large camp meetings associated with the Second Great Awakening. Bethesda’s present structure, built in 1820, is the third building associated with the church. Bethesda represents the typical rural brick church in an expanded meetinghouse form. The interior reveals a double-aisle configuration with side aisles under the gallery. Although Victorian motifs have been added both to the interior and exterior, the basic architectural integrity of the church has been retained. The gallery is supported by square columns of ca. 1882 vintage on the first level and original octagonal columns on the second level. The narthex wall dates from 1917 but the original gallery stairs are intact. Other 1882 alterations include the semicircular-arched pulpit niche, the pews with scroll motifs and the widened windows with 2/2 sash. The pulpit furniture and lighting fixtures also date from 1882. Also significant in its own right is Bethesda’s cemetery. Among those buried there are veterans of the American Revolution, Mexican War, Civil War, and both World Wars. Listed in the National Register August 16, 1977.

— Submitted June 6, 2010, by Wes Cox of Union, South Carolina.