Old Brick Church (Ebenezer ARP)
Bulletin Cover
from Special 1976 Service
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Old Brick Church
Fairfield County, S. C.
OLD BRICK CHURCH ERECTED 1788
This church building, erected in 1788, was first called Little River and
afterwards, Ebenezer, but for many years has been known as the Brick
Church. The exact date of organization is unknown. Before the
Revolutionary War, a log church stood two miles west of the present
location. When this church building was erected in 1788, the
location was changed to accommodate the people who lived on the east side
of Little River. The granite wall around the church and graveyard
was erected in 1852.
The first pastor, so far as we know, was Rev. James Rogers, installed
February 23, 1791, who came from Scotland and served until his death in
1830. He was followed by Rev. James Boyce, 1832-1843; Rev. Thomas
Ketchin, 1844-1852; Rev. C. B. Betts, 1855-69. During the period
1791-1865, the Brick Church was a large and flourishing congregation.
Following the War Between the States, the church declined and was
without a regular pastor until reorganized in 1893 under the leadership
of Rev. A. G. Kirkpatrick, who was pastor until 1899. Presbytery
arranged for subsequent supplies, but after a few years, the congregation
passed out of existence without any formal dissolution.
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See a 100 dpi scan of this page as it appeared (149,107 bytes).
Legend on back of
MAP
OF HISTORIC FAIRFIELD says:
| 90.
| Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church -- known as the
Old Brick Church. Building was erected in 1788. The Rev. James Rogers, a
native of Ireland, became pastor in 1791. Inscription made by Northern
soldier in 1865 may be seen on the wall inside. |
STORY OF
"THE SILK OF THE TRADE"
BY THORNWELL JACOBS says on pages 3 & 4:
... Only a mile from the Anderson Quarry stands the Old Brick Church,
originally known as the Little River Church. In it, on May 9th, 1803 a
great denomination, The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, was born.
On the facing of one of its doors some sixty years later, a Yankee soldier
wrote his famous apology to the Confederates, still legible:
| "
| 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." |
Perhaps, the most fascinating
feature of a visit to this historic old church is the stone fence around
the graveyard and the ancient sarcophagi and memorials and, for our purpose
more especially the granite foundation and the original stone steps of the
side entrance. The fence is built of granite ashlars, giving to the
visitor the impression of their great abundance, as if they were not only
the best material for the purpose, but also the least expensive. The
steps are of local stone, moss covered and iron stained. ... |
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Mrs. W. T. (Nell) SPROTT of Winnsboro tells me (JWG3) tonight (3 Dec 2000)
on the phone that this is not where the ARP denomination started, but
rather it is where the 1st meeting of the synod of the south of the ARP
church was held. That 1st meeting was in 1803. When the ARP church split
over the troubles about the time of the War Between the States, the synod
of the south became a denomination unto itself. This is why some have said
that the ARP Church started here in 1803.
History of Fairfield County SC
by Fitz Hugh McMaster, 1946, says:
on page 64:
The Associate Reformed Synod of the Carolinas was organized at Mr. Robers'
church, Ebenezer, May 9, 1803, and Mr. Roger [sic] was the moderator of
the meeting, and he was also moderator ..." |
on page 78:
James Rogers, a native of county Monaghan, Ireland, but a graduate of the
University of Glascow [sic], and educated in theology in Scotland, became
pastor of Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (the Brick
Church) in 1791. ... James Boyce, D.D., succeeded James Rogers at the
Brick Church. ... |
on page 152 - 155:
CHAPTER XVIII
SHERMAN'S ARMY IN FAIRFIELD
(R. H. McMaster)
...
On the night of February 19, [Major General H. W.] Slocum [commanding the
left wing] wrote to Sherman:--"... Tomorrow night the Fourteenth Corps
[commanded by Major General Jeff C. Davis (under Slocum)] will be at
Ebeneser [sic] Meeting House, on Little River; ..."
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Pictures taken by J. W. Green III ca. 1976
Outside showing rear door & side facing road
Inside showing slave gallery in rear & rod & turnbuckle
The stairwell is behind wall at left. Apology is in frame on right face of
rear door.
Inside showing slave gallery in rear & rod
Apology is in frame on right face of rear door.
Fairfield's Annual CSA Memorial Day Service
is held here in May.
Return to Historical/Genealogical Places in Fairfield County on the
Fairfield County GenWeb Page
The url of this page is
http://www.rootsweb.com/~scfairfi/ebenezer.html
This page was put on the web 11 May 2000.
This page was Last Updated 4 December 2000.
This page was put on the web by
James W. Green III.
This is the Bottom of this Web Page (End of File).
