City Directories and History: Bell’s Chapel (Methodist) was located about 300 yards off the Antreville-Lowndesville Road, a mile and a half south of Antreville. Carlton learned from its members that it dated from 1855, and its first pastor was the Rev. W.W. Jones. One of our older members told him that it was given its name because Dr. John Bell donated the church lot. Another member said that “the first building was used as a Union church by the different denominations.
The [Abbeville] Press & Banner reported on October 6, 1886, that the Rev. S.J. Bethea was conducting meetings in the five charges in his Abbeville circuit which included Bell’s Chapel where it said that a congregation was “recently organized,” but the work had to be held “in open air until a building could be put up.”
In August 31, 1887, the paper noted “an unusual occurrence Tuesday at Bell’s Chapel at the close of a ten-day meeting held by the Rev. S.J. Bethea, I.E., the taking into full membership of sixty members, together with the baptism of forty-five or fifty of those same members. The new church was organized at that place. (Source: Abbeville’s rural Churches: Ben Carlton’s WPA Sketches and Notes, 1939)
The story which Carlton garnered from its members in 1939 was that there had been a building there from 1857 to 1891 when “it was blown down by a wind storm.” A new building was put up about 1891, a rectangular frame structure (36′ by 42′), and in 1918 its wooden steps were replaced with concrete ones. In 1939, the Rev. J.H. Manly, Abbeville RFD#1, had been its pastor since 1935, and its membership about 260. [Information written and contributed to R&R by Brian K. Scott, 4.23.15]
Click here for additional information on Bell’s Chapel history.
Also see: Bell’s Chapel Church
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.