Near McCormick in McCormick County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bethany Church

Photographed By Brian Scott, July 19, 2008

1. Bethany Church Marker

Inscription.
The first Bethany Meeting House was erected by 1809 on the old Edgefield-Abbeville Stagecoach Road midway between Hard Labor and Cuffey Town Creeks. Bethany Baptist Church was constituted in December 1809, with Amos Dubose as pastor. The present church is said to have been built in 1850 at the Shinburg Muster Grounds, about two miles south of the original site.

Erected 1970 by McCormick County Historical Society. (Marker Number 33-3.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the South Carolina, McCormick County Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1809.

Location. 33° 55.479′ N, 82° 11.205′ W. Marker is near McCormick, South Carolina, in McCormick County. Marker is on U.S. 378 near Road 138. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mc Cormick SC 29835, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Londonborough Settlement (approx. 5.9 miles away); McCormick Train Station (approx. 6.2 miles away); McCormick Passenger Train Steps (approx. 6.2 miles away); McCormick County / MACK (approx. 6.3 miles away); McCormick County Veterans Monument

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(approx. 6.3 miles away); McCormick County Confederate Monument (approx. 6.3 miles away); Dorn Mill Complex (approx. 6.3 miles away); Dorn Mill (approx. 6.3 miles away); Dorn’s Mill / Dorn Gold Mine (approx. 6.4 miles away); Long Canes Massacre (approx. 7.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McCormick.

Also see . . . First Bethany Baptist Church. Church website homepage (Submitted on March 28, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. Bethany Church
This church was constituted December 2nd, 1809, by Revs. Amos Dubose, Enoch Brazeal, and Robert Marsh, with eight members from Fellowship and Plum Branch Churches, viz.: Garrett Longmire, John Chiles, George Coleman, Elizabeth Barrett, Winnefor Forceson, Francis Henderson, Francis Davidson, Abigail Jay. Rev. Amos Dubose was first pastor and served till the end of the year 1824. Larkin Cason was first clerk, serving until 1829. John Longmire was made deacon in 1816—the first recorded. There was a great revival

Photographed By Brian Scott, July 19, 2008

2. Bethany Church Marker

in 1810. This revival was followed by a state of lukewarmness, as it appears from the records that only seven persons were baptized into the church from the close of 1810 to the first of 1829. The church then took on new life and had great revivals for several years. Many were added to the church by baptism, some of whom were negroes. For three years there were revivals each year, and they have continued at intervals to the present time.

This church united with the Edgefield Baptist Association in 1810. Rev. R.M. Todd was pastor from some time in 1825 to the end of 1831, with the exception of an interval from January to August, 1828, during which time a Rev. Mr. Roberts was pastor. The church licensed Henry Casper and Washington Belcher to preach in 1810, and ordained Henry Casper in 1811.

William Chiles was made clerk in 1829 and served to 1841. James M. Chiles was licensed to preach in 1830, and was ordained in 1832. At the same time John Chiles was ordained deacon. Rev. James M. Chiles became pastor in 1832, and served as such until the close of 1844. Under him the church prospered—had several great revivals—and also the Sunday School cause was revived. Littletou A. Brooks was ordained deacon in 1833. John Anderson was made clerk in 1841, served till 1845, and was succeeded by W.B. Brannan, who served to 1847. Richard P. Quarles was clerk from 1847

Bethany Church - Main Sanctuary image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, July 19, 2008

3. Bethany Church - Main Sanctuary

to 1850.

Rev. William Royal became pastor in 1845, and served until the close of the year 1848. During the year 1849 Rev. A.P. Norris was pastor the first Sunday and the day before in each month; Rev. James Shadrack fourth Sunday in each month.

In 1850 there was a new house of worship built at Shinburg muster ground, near Longmire's post office. The old meeting house, which was on the road from Edgefield Court House to Abbeville Court House, and about midway between Hard Labor and Cuffeetown Creeks, was sold and the church moved into the new house of worship. Rev. John Trapp was made pastor in 1850, and Rev. James Shadrack was ordained to the Gospel ministry the same year, and during the same year Joseph L. Talbert was made clerk.

Rev. John Trapp served as pastor to the close of 1874. Under his administration the church prospered—he was greatly beloved and was finally compelled to resign on account of age and infirmities incident thereto. Hezekiah Edwards and Peter Quattlebaum were made deacons in 1854. John G. Thornton was made deacon in 1863, and in the same year R.W. Seymour was ordained to preach, and called to preach one Sunday in each month, as an assistant to Rev. John Trapp, the regular pastor.

The clerk of the church, Joseph L. Talbert, was killed on Maryland Heights at the capture of Harper's Ferry in 1862. George J. Sheppard

Bethany Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, July 19, 2008

4. Bethany Church

was then made clerk, and served until 1869, when he and Orlando Sheppard were ordained deacons. W.H. Yeldell was made clerk, which position he still fills (1894). Rev. R.W. Seymour became pastor in 1875, and served until the end of 1877. Rev. A.G. Collier was called, and served as pastor 1878 and 1879. Rev. B.F. Miller served the years 1880, 1881, and 1882. Under Mr. Miller the church prospered, and many were added to the membership. J.T. White and A.L. Bushnell were ordained deacons in 1882. Rev. J.K. Fant was pastor during the year 1883. Rev. B.F. Miller was again called, and served as pastor from June, 1884, to the end of 1885. The church ordained Rev. J.S. Manardis to the ministry in 1885.

Rev. J.S. Jordan was pastor during the years 1886 and 1887, and was very .successful in his labors.

H.Q. Talbert, L.D. White, C.W. Burress, and W.A. Cheatham were ordained deacons in 1887.

The history of this church was sent me by J.T. White. (Source: History of Edgefield County: From the Earliest Settlements to 1897 by John Abney Chapman (1897), pgs 312-314.)

— Submitted December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Photographed By Brian Scott, July 19, 2008

5. Bethany Church - Main Sanctuary

Bethany Church and Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, July 19, 2008

6. Bethany Church and Cemetery

Bethany Church Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, February 28, 2003

7. Bethany Church Cemetery

Photographed By Brian Scott, February 28, 2003

8. Bethany Church Cemetery

Photographed By Brian Scott, February 28, 2003

9. Bethany Church Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,246 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 24, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 22, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 7, 8, 9. submitted on December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Christopher Busta-Peck was the editor who published this page.