Old Brick Church (Fairfield County, South Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
|
|
.jpg)
Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (Old Brick Church)
|
|
 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Jenkinsville, South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Built | 1788 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000775 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1971 |
The Old Brick Church is a very old church in Fairfield County, South Carolina. It is also known as the Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church. This historic building was built way back in 1788. You can find it about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Jenkinsville.
This church is special because it's one of the few churches from the 1700s still standing in the South Carolina midlands. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1971.
Contents
Church History
Building the First Church
In the 1770s, settlers from Scotland and Ireland came to this area. They were Presbyterians and first built a church out of logs. This log church was later replaced by the brick church we see today. The new brick church was finished in 1788.
What the Church Looks Like
The Old Brick Church is a simple, rectangular building. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a gabled roof. The bricks used to build it were all made by hand. Members of the church congregation made them! Inside, the church has straight, wooden benches called pews.
There is a raised platform called a dais pulpit against the east wall. It is three steps higher than the floor. This is where the preacher would stand. It has a stand for the Bible and rails on its sides. On the west side of the church, there was a gallery. In 1852, a stone wall was built around the church and its cemetery.
.jpg)
Pastors and Important Meetings
Many pastors have led the church over the years. Some of them include James Rogers, James Boyce, and Thomas Ketchin.
A very important meeting happened at the church on May 9, 1803. Ministers and church elders met there. This meeting led to the creation of the Associate Reformed Synod of the Carolinas. Even though it wasn't the very first Associate Reformed Church in South Carolina, the Old Brick Church is seen as the "mother church" or "birthplace" of the ARP Church in South Carolina.
The Church During the Civil War
The church grew a lot before the Civil War. During the war, something unusual happened. Soldiers from the Union Army used parts of the church floor. They needed the wood to help rebuild a bridge over the Little River.
A soldier even left a message on an inside wall. It was a penciled apology that said: "Citizens of this community: Please excuse us for defacing your house of worship, so much. It was absolutely necessary to effect a crossing over the creek, the Rebs had destroyed the bridge. A Yankee."
After the War and Revival
After the Civil War, the number of people attending the church became much smaller. The church didn't have a regular pastor for a while. It even disappeared from the church records for some time.
However, in 1891, the church was brought back to life! Reverend A. G. Kirkpatrick helped reorganize it on August 25, 1893. He became its pastor in 1896.
The Church Today
In the 1920s, the church congregation moved to a new building. The Old Brick Church is now used for special services. It doesn't have a regular group of people meeting there every week. But in 1973, the Catawba Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church put the Old Brick Church back on its list as a place of worship.
In 2007, a special group called the Old Brick Church Commission was formed. Their job is to take care of the church building and its cemetery.
Historical Marker
A historical marker was placed at the site in 1962. The Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce put it there. This marker is located near Jenkinsville, South Carolina, on Monjicono Road. It tells us that this place was important for bringing religion to the area. It also marks an important spot during the American Civil War. The marker also notes when the rock wall was added around the church in 1852.
