USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 1 > Part 37
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From the following letter of Rev. H. P. Sloan, of Abbeville, S. C., addressed to the Rev. T. C. Ligon, Gilder's Creek would seem to have had some connection at one time with the Associate Reformed. He writes :
" Since the receipt of your last I have been presented by Mrs. Wideman with two copies of the minutes of The General Associate Reformed Synod for 1811 and 1812, which settles the question of the ecclesiastical connection of Gilder's Creek Church at that time. At that time Indian Creek (perhaps the same as King's Creek), Cannon's Creek and Prosperity be- longed to our First Presbytery, and for a number of years were under the pastoral care of Rev. James Rogers. They are so marked in the statistical table of said Presbytery. But Gilder's Creek, Newberry, is put down as belonging to the Second Presbytery, and Rev. John Renwick as pastor or preacher, and Warrior's Creek, Laurens, was also on our roll. Then in the report of Second Presbytery to the same General Synod, 1812, the next year this passage occurs (page 14) as an item of information : 'That Warrior Creek vacancy was on the tenth of March last united with Gilder's Creek as a part of Mr. Renwick's charge, and, in other respects, our set- tled congregations are nearly as they were. That our vacan- cies are languishing ; one of them has left us, and more will do so unless we can obtain ministerial aid.' Preachers were then very scarce, and our vacancies could only be supplied by the settled pastors, and an occasional missionary from the North. Coupling the above facts together you will probably find the reason of the change of both Gilder's Creek and
375
20-1830.] GRASSY SPRING-DUNCAN'S CREEK.
'arrior's Creek Churches from the Associate Reformed esbyterian Church to the Presbyterian. I think you will id by tracing up the history that after Rev. Mr. Renwick ive up said churches, and they could not get a supply of eaching from us, that they received it from Rev. Mr. Ken- :dy (John B.) and other Presbyterian ministers. Hence the lange of connection.
" Another item showing the strength of Gilder's Creek in 312 ; it is put down as having seventy-five families and five Iditions during the year. * This is all the additional formation which I have obtained. By a reference to our inutes and reports of Second Presbytery you will probably tain all the information desired. Recorded minutes, as a 'nod, are in the hands of Rev. D. G. Phillips, D. D., Louis- lle, Ga. He can probably furnish you some items."
GRASSY SPRING .- We cease to find this church in the eccle- astical records any more. We therefore conclude that its embers had moved away, or had joined other organizations their neighborhood.
LITTLE RIVER -We have been wholly unable to obtain my information concerning this church during the time of hich we now write The only items are the mention of it the statistical tables connected with the minutes of the eneral Assembly. In 1826 and 1829 the statement is that had forty-eight communing members. Who ministered to we do not know. Its records previous to 1842 have been I destroyed. It is situated near the boundary line between ewberry and Laurens Districts, more noted in the period of le Revolution than since. (See Vol. I, pp. 428, 526, 527, 28, 617.) Its present members and sessions have not enabled s to trace its history down with any particularity of detail. he Rev. John B. Kennedy, who became its pastor in 1793 r 1794, continued in that office until his death, through this ecade.
DUNCAN'S CREEK .- The Rev. John B. Kennedy continued › preach in this church regularly in connection with his arge at Little River till about the year 1823. By this time issensions and difficulties had arisen ; the love of many ad grown cold, and religion declined. We find it petition- ig Presbytery for supplies in 1827, 1828, and 1829. Among ese supplies the names of Rev. Messrs. Aaron Foster, John .. Kennedy, and others.
376
ROCKY SPRING-LIBERTY SPRING. [1820-1830.
The two churches of Duncan's Creek and Little River are put together in the reports of 1825, with an united member- ship of seventy-six ; twenty-one baptisms, two of which were adults. In 1828 Little River is represented as vacant ; Dun- can's Creek as vacant, with a membership of fifty.
ROCKY SPRING .- Rev. Thos. Archibald who had been in- stalled pastor of this church in November, 1817, was released from that charge on the 8th of April, 1820, and dismissed to the Presbytery of Concord. He, however, returned his dis- mission on the 5th of April, 1821, and was continued as a meinber till October 9, 1824, when he obtained a dismission to the Presbytery of Alabama. How this church was next supplied we are not fully informed. Mr. Kennedy returned in 1826. It had 45 members in May, 1828, 7 of whom had been received during the preceding year. It was under the care of John B. Kennedy as stated supply in May, 1829, in connection with Gilder's Creek. John B. Kennedy's post- office is given as Laurens C. H., S. C.
LIBERTY SPRING .- The Rev. Alexander Kirkpatrick con- tinued the pastor of this church until the 29th of November, 1823, when, with the consent of the congregation, their pas- toral relations with him were dissolved by the act of the Presbytery of South Carolina, and he was dismissed to join the Presbytery of Hopewell, in Georgia. Rev. John Rennie was then obtained by this people as their regular preacher and continued to serve them until the Summer of 1827, when he went to Columbia and took charge of the Presby- terian Church there. Mr. Rennie was a native of Ireland, a graduate of the University of Glasgow in 1817, of Andover in 1822, was licensed by the Presbytery of Londondery and was ordained by the Presbytery of South Carolina at a pro re nata meeting held at Cambridge Church on the 9th of Au- gust, 1823. The Church at Liberty Spring then wrote to their old pastor, Mr. Kirkpatrick, then in Georgia, to return, which he did in the latter part of 1827 or 1828, and continued to preach to this church till he died. He was born in Antrim County, Ireland, and died near Cross Hill, December 30th, 1832. He was buried in the Cemetery connected with the church, and his tombstone states that he was pastor here for ten years.
The church reports 112 members in May, 1825; 114 in 1826. It was set down as vacant in 1828, with 110 mem-
377
WARRIOR CREEK-FRIENDSHIP.
20-1830.]
rs, as served by a stated supply, (referring to the facts pro- bly that Mr. Kirkpatrick was not regularly installed) and ; having 119 members. Mr. Kirkpatrick was by nature assessed of an amiable disposition, his mind was well de- eloped, and was a good and instructive preacher. (MSS. of )r. Campbell, and of E. F. Hyde.)
WARRIOR CREEK'S .- We judge that this church continued or some time under the care of Alexander Kirkpatrick, as a art of his charge. The united contribution of Liberty Spring nd Warrior's Creek for some time came through his hands. Iis postoffice was Laurens Courthouse, and his connection rith Liberty Spring was but for half his time. In 1827, 1828, 829, Warrior's Creek petitions Presbytery for supplies. Its membership, June 1825, was 51 ; 10 baptisms, one of which vas an adult. In 1826 the membership was 58; in 1828 it was 6, and is represented as vacant ; in 1829 its membership is the ame, but it has the services of a stated supply.
FRIENDSHIP CHURCH .- We have not found the name of Rabourn's Creek repeated during this period as the name of religious organization. We find, however, Friendship Church n a locality not very distant from the other. It is in Laurens District, not far from the Saluda River, between it and Reedy River, on a beautiful and fertile ridge, and quite near the dividing line which separates Laurens from Greenville District. It was first organized in the year 1823, the fifth in order of establishment of the churches in Laurens County. The country around was first settled, probably, about 1750, mostly by Irish emigrants and their descendants. Some of them bore the name of Cunningham, some of Dorroh, or Boyd, Nickly, Hollidy. " A petition," says the Presbtyerial Record, " was presented from a congregation in Laurens District desiring to be received under the care of Presbytery, and to be known by the name of Friendship. They having stated to Presbytery that they had adopted the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church ; On motion,
" Resolved, That this church be received under the care of Presbytery, and that elder James Dorroh be invited to take a seat in Presbytery." (Minutes, Vol I, p. 115.)
The church building may have been erected as early as 1819, by the Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists in com- mon, but the Presbyterians alone held a permanent organiza- tion, and this church edifice remained in their hands.
378
UNION-CANE CREEK-FAIRFOREST. {1820-1830.
This was on the 2d of April, 1834. The Rev. Eleazar Brainard supplied the church for two years at first. Aaron Foster, in 1827, Archibald Craig in 1828. and Arthur Mooney in 1829, and, occasionally a Rev. Mr. Quillen. The first elders acting in the church were Robert Nickles, James Dorroh and John Cunningham. (Letter of David R. Dorroh, March 22, 1854.) Communicants in 1825, 32; in 1826, 28; in 1828, 35 ; in 1829, 47.
UNION .-- This church is represented in the statistical tables of 1825, 1826, 1828 and 1829 as vacant, and as consisting of twenty members. The condition of this church and that of Cane Creek attracted the notice of the Presbytery of South Carolina, March 20, 1826, and, on motion, it was
" Resolved, That a committee be appointed to address a letter to the churches of Unionville and Cane Creek on the subject of their neglect in not reporting their situation to Presbytery for years, either by a written communication or a representative, and requesting to know their present situa- tion, their prospect of supplies of the word of life for time to come, &c., and that the committee consist of the Rev. Francis H. Porter and Benjamin D. Du Pree, with Mr. Barry, elder." (Minutes of Presbytery of South Carolina, p. 142.)
October 4, 1828, Presbytery made arrangements to have the sacrament of the Lord's Supper administered in some of their vacant congregations, Among them was Cane Creek and Unionville. Rev. John B. Kennedy, with Mr. Daniel L. Gray, were to attend at Cane Creek Church on the second Sabbath in November, and Rev. Aaron Foster, with Mr. Gray, at Unionville on the second Sabbath in December. (Minutes, p. 178, 179.)
CANE CREEK .- In 1820 the Rev. Daniel Johnson, a mis- sionary of a society in Charleston, served this church a part of the time for a term of six months. After him, occasional supplies from Presbytery were their only reliance till IS25, when the church secured the services of Mr. James Chestney, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Albany, for one-half his time for one year. From 1826 till January, 1830, there was no stated preaching. (J. H. Saye.) This James Chestney aban- doned the ministry for the legal profession.
FAIRFOREST CHURCH was favored with the pastoral labors of Rev. Mr. Hillhouse until 1823. The Rev. Isaac Hadden,
379
FAIRFOREST CHURCH.
20-1830.]
ho was educated by Dr. Waddell, and who was from Abbe- Jle District, then supplied the church for a short time. He as succeeded in 1824 by Rev. Francis Porter, who was en- aged in teaching at Cedar Springs, a few miles distant, and ho continued as stated supply for some four years. He reached his farewell sermon from 2d Corinthians, 13th chap- er and IIth verse on the second Sabbath of February, 1828. During his ministry, Samuel Archibald, John McDowell, Ioses White and Matthew Mayes were added to the session. Ie was succeeded in the latter part of 1828 by Rev. Daniel .. Gray, a nephew of the former pastor, Daniel Gray, a native f Abbeville District, a graduate of Miami University, and licentiate of the Presbytery of South Carolina. He was rdained and installed pastor of this church by Bethel Pres- ytery in June 1829. . He supplied Cane Creek and perhaps ther places in connection with Fairforest. He also had eceived his preparatory education under Dr. Waddell. His hinistry here continued some four or five years, when he emoved to the Western District of Tennessee. Some four- een families went with him or followed him to his new home. His labors in Union District were attended with a consid- rable amount of success, and some share of opposition. He vas probably one of the first advocates of Temperance Socie- ies in that region. What he did he did with his might. some of his other measures were regarded as innovations by part of his congregation, and hence he was opposed on everal grounds. His influence, however, was attended with ome desirable changes in the social customs of the country. These remarks have carried us into the next decade.
The Rev. Mr. Hillhouse, before mentioned, left the con- gregation in circumstances of great apparent prosperity. After eaving Fairforest he returned to Anderson, where he died. He was the uncle of the late Rev. James Hillhouse, of Ala- Dama, and of Rev. Dr. J. S. Wilson, of Georgia, and the father of the Rev. J. B. Hillhouse. The Rev. Francis Porter was brought up in. the Bethesda congregation in York District, and probably acquired his classical education in the school of Rev. R. B. Walker. He was engaged in teaching in the most of his ministerial life. He taught at Asheville, N. C. ; at Cedar Springs, S. C. Among his pupils were some dis- tinguished names. He afterwards removed to Alabama, where he died. [MSS. of J. H. Saye, A. A. James, and letter of
380
NAZARETH-FAIRVIEW-SMYRNA. [1820-1830.
Jephthah Harrison. ] The statistics of Fairforest Church, as given in the minutes of the Assembly, are : communicants in 1825, 99 ; in 1828, vacant ; communicants, 90 ; communicants in 1829. 100.
NAZARETH CHURCH .- Rev. Michael Dickson was licensed by the Presbytery of South Carolina on the 8th of April, 1820, and was directed by the Presbyterial Committee of Missions to supply the congregations of Fairview, Nazareth, and North Pacolet. At the fall meeting a call for his services was brought to Presbytery by the two congregations of Naz- areth and Fairview, cach for one-half of his time. Presbytery held its regular sessions on the 5th of April, 1821, at Nazareth Church, when Mr. Dickson, John S. Wilson, and Solomon Ward were ordained, and Mr. Dickson was installed Pastor of the united congregations of Nazareth and Fairview. The Rev. William H. Barr presided on the occasion, and the Rev. Henry Reid preached the ordination sermon from 2d Timothy 3 : 17. Mr. Dickson was a faithful pastor, and accomplished much in this church and congregation for the interests of true religion. Nazareth and Fairview together had 191 com- muning members in 1825 ; Nazareth had 94 in 1826, 90 in 1828, and 121 in 1829.
FAIRVIEW .- The history of this church was parallel with that of Nazareth. They were collegiate churches under the same pastor. Mr. Dickson, however, was released from Fair- view in 1827, and Messrs. Watson and Craig were appointed to supply them at discretion. The church is marked as vacant in 1828. The number of communicants belonging to Fair- view separately was 79 in 1826 and 1828. In 1829 it was 94. James Alexander and David Morton were elected elders in September 1822.
NORTH PACOLET .- The only record we can make of this church is that it is twice mentioned during these ten years. In 1825 as having 30 members and as vacant, as vacant in 1828. In 1822 they were served by F. Porter.
SMYRNA CHURCH (Abbeville District) still continued an integral part of the charge of Rev. Hugh Dickson, at least until 1829. The singular mortality among the candidates for the eldership was noticed elsewhere. Robert Redd held the office, as was there said, through the whole of this period, but the old members were passing away, and the church approaching apparent dissolution, preparatory, perhaps, to a
381
GREENVILLE-ROCKY CREEK.
20-1830.]
iture resurrection. The membership was twenty-three in 26, twenty-two in 1828. It is represented as vacant in 1829. GREENVILLE CHURCH (Abbeville), formerly Saluda, was fill served by the Rev. Hugh Dickson, in connection with e preceding. The eldership being reduced by the death of bohn Weatherall and the withdrawal of Samuel Agnew, about he year 1829 or 1830, John Donnald, William Means, A. C. Hawthorn, with Abraham Haddon, were elected and ordained Iders. Greenville Church had eighty communicants in 1826, ighty-nine in 1828, eighty-five in 1829.
ROCKY CREEK .- This is the Church which, since 1845, as been known as " THE ROCK CHURCH." The first record the Sessions Book of the Rocky Creek Church is in the andwriting of elder John Blake, dated May Ist. 1823. For many years previous to this date the church at Rocky Creek had been altogether destitute of the stated ordinances of the Gospel. Preaching was seldom enjoyed; the number of hurch members had been gradually diminishing for some ime. There were no ruling elders; they were either dead or lad removed to other parts of the country ; and a general pathy and indifference as to the public means of grace had aken possession of the few professors who remained. Under hese circumstances the church was visited in May, 1823, by he Rev. John Rennie, who took charge of it, or rather sup- plied it for part of the time, till May, 1827, which was four years.
In 1827, after the departure of Mr. Rennie, the church was supplied for a few months by Rev. John McKinnie. In 1828 t was supplied by Rev. Eli Adams for one-half the time. In October, 1829, the Rev. Hugh Dickson began to supply it half the time.
The following are the names of the ruling elders of this church down to the year 1830, as far as known to the session in 1850:
In 1801, John Irwin.
In 1804, John Sample, George Heard.
In 1818, Thomas Weir, John Blake, John Caldwell.
In 1825, Carr McGehee, Jesse Beasley, Robert Boyd, Jas. Scott.
The statistical tables give the communing members of this church as 36 in 1825, the same in 1826, 41 in 1828, and 40 in 1829.
المياه مسيحي
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