103 Vienna Street
City Directories and History: A lovely Gothic Revival style worship site built in approximately 1893. Also see: Abbeville Church History
ABBEVILLE ASSOCIATE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH contributed and written by Paul M. Gettys, 2015
The Abbeville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized with fourteen charter members on November 26, 1889. Because of its proximity to Due West and Erskine Theological Seminary located there, it has always had a close connection to the seminary and has often received supply ministers from the faculty and student body. Tough never a large congregation, the Abbeville church has provided a consistent witness in the community for well over a century.
The charter members of the church were Mrs. W. E. Bell, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Hemphill, J. Hayne McDill, Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. McLane, W. T. McLane, C. D. Haddon, Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Bradley, Mrs. T. W. McMillen, and Mrs. J. C. Klugh. Upon organization, J. C. McLane, T. P. Thompson, and W. O. Bradley were elected elders and J. Hayne McDill and C. D. Haddon were chosen deacons.
Services were initially held in the Abbeville County Court House with supply ministers from Due West. In 1893, the congregation purchased a lot at 103 Vienna Street and a brick church was erected near the public square. This neat structure continues to serve the congregation. It is covered in stucco.
The Abbeville church has had a combination of installed ministers and supply pastors over the years. Some of the installed ministers have been Rev. J. J. Grier (1894-1895), Dr. T. W. Sloan (1900-1902), Rev. W. C. Ewart (1903), Dr. E. B. Kennedy (1905-1913), Dr. Moffatt Ross Plaxco (1915-1924), and Rev. William Calvin Kerr (1924-1945).
Early in its history, the Abbeville church organized auxiliary ministries. The Sabbath School was organized in 1891 with 32 pupils. A Ladies Aid Society was organized in the same year with Mrs. F. Y. Pressly as chairman and eight charter members.
In recent years, the church has been supplied by ministers from Due West. In 2005, the Mount Carmel ARP Church was dissolved, and its members were united with the Abbeville church, which is now officially known as Abbeville-Mount Carmel ARP Church.
Sources: Centennial History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Published by the General Synod, 1905 and Sesquicentennial History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Published by the General Synod, 1951.
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