Old Brick Church (Fairfield County, South Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Old Brick Church, which is also known as Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church or First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a church built in 1788 about 4 mi (6 km) north of Jenkinsville
on SC 213 in Fairfield County, South Carolina. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places
on August 19, 1971. It is one of the few 18th century churches surviving in the South Carolina midlands
.
in 1788. This church is a simple, rectangular, brick building with a gabled roof. The bricks were handmade by members of the congregation. The church has straight-back, wooden pews. There is a dais
pulpit against the east wall that is three steps above floor level. The dais has a bible stand and has rails on the two sides. On the west end, there is a slave gallery. In 1852, a stone wall was built around the church and cemetery.
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Pastors of the church include James Rogers (1791–1830), James Boyce (1832–1843), Thomas Ketchin (1844–1852), C.B. Betts (1855–1869), Allen Grier Kirkpatrick (1896–1899).
On May 9, 1803, the church was used for a meeting of ministers and church elders that resulted in the formation of the Associate Reformed Synod of the Carolinas. Although not the first Associate Reformed Church in South Carolina, Old Brick Church is considered the "mother church" or "birthplace" of the ARP Church in South Carolina.
The church grew in the period of before the Civil War
. But many of its male congregants enlisted in the Confederate Army once war began in 1861. Several are buried in the church graveyard. During the war, Union Army
soldiers used part of the floor to reconstruct a bridge over the Little River. There is a pencilled apology on an interior wall that was left by soldier “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, the church congregation shrank. After Rev. Betts resigned in 1869, the church had infrequent supply pastors, but it eventually disappeared from the Presbytery rolls. In the 1891, the church was revived by Rev. A. G. Kirkpatrick, who was pastor in another church. In 1893, it was reorganized on August 25, 1893. In 1896, Kirkpatrick became its pastor.
In the 1920s, the congregation moved to a new building. Old Brick Church is used for special services. Although it does not have an active congregation, the Catawba Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church put Old Brick Church back on the rolls as a house of worship in 1973. In 2007, the Old Brick Church Commission was appointed to care for the church and its cemetery.
. The historical marker is located near Jenkinsville Fairfield County South Carolina on Monjicono Road. The historical marker
sets a point in history where religion
was brought to the area and represents a important place during the American Civil War
. The marker is also a record of time which the rock wall was added in 1852 http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=14332
Jenkinsville, South Carolina
Jenkinsville is a newly incorporated town in western Fairfield County, South Carolina, United States, between the Broad and the Little Rivers. It is located east of Monticello Reservoir and is near the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station. Also in the area is the Kincaid-Anderson House and...
on SC 213 in Fairfield County, South Carolina. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 19, 1971. It is one of the few 18th century churches surviving in the South Carolina midlands
Midlands, South Carolina
The Midlands roughly refers to an area in the middle of South Carolina. Columbia is the largest city in the region and location of the state government...
.
History
In the 1770s, Presbyterian settlers from Scotland and Ireland built a log church. This was replaced by a brick church on the Little RiverLittle River (Broad River)
The Little River is a tributary of the Broad River flowing through Fairfield County, South Carolina and forming a small portion of Fairfield's border with Richland County.-References:1. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Jenkinsville&state=SC...
in 1788. This church is a simple, rectangular, brick building with a gabled roof. The bricks were handmade by members of the congregation. The church has straight-back, wooden pews. There is a dais
Dais
Dais is any raised platform located either in or outside of a room or enclosure, often for dignified occupancy, as at the front of a lecture hall or sanctuary....
pulpit against the east wall that is three steps above floor level. The dais has a bible stand and has rails on the two sides. On the west end, there is a slave gallery. In 1852, a stone wall was built around the church and cemetery.
On May 9, 1803, the church was used for a meeting of ministers and church elders that resulted in the formation of the Associate Reformed Synod of the Carolinas. Although not the first Associate Reformed Church in South Carolina, Old Brick Church is considered the "mother church" or "birthplace" of the ARP Church in South Carolina.
The church grew in the period of before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. But many of its male congregants enlisted in the Confederate Army once war began in 1861. Several are buried in the church graveyard. During the war, Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldiers used part of the floor to reconstruct a bridge over the Little River. There is a pencilled apology on an interior wall that was left by soldier “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, the church congregation shrank. After Rev. Betts resigned in 1869, the church had infrequent supply pastors, but it eventually disappeared from the Presbytery rolls. In the 1891, the church was revived by Rev. A. G. Kirkpatrick, who was pastor in another church. In 1893, it was reorganized on August 25, 1893. In 1896, Kirkpatrick became its pastor.
In the 1920s, the congregation moved to a new building. Old Brick Church is used for special services. Although it does not have an active congregation, the Catawba Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church put Old Brick Church back on the rolls as a house of worship in 1973. In 2007, the Old Brick Church Commission was appointed to care for the church and its cemetery.
Historical Marker
The site was made a historical marker in 1962 by Fairfield County Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. The historical marker is located near Jenkinsville Fairfield County South Carolina on Monjicono Road. The historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
sets a point in history where religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
was brought to the area and represents a important place during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The marker is also a record of time which the rock wall was added in 1852 http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=14332