Why pay for stones when they are available and free?
I recall a remark made years ago, from an elderly family member who was bemoaning the fact that so often ‘poor churches’ used field stones to build their places of worship. The statement was indeed rather snobbish and though I dared not disagree, I thought the opposite. To me, buildings constructed of native materials are beautiful, show character and are simply different and therefore far more interesting. Our Roots and Recall audience must agree, for one of our posts which received significant response featured Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Cherokee Co., S.C. This African American congregation constructed the church building in much the same manner as African American quilters do- using whatever they have on hand to assemble something of beauty and value. At first glance the church appears as a hodgepodge of materials; brick, stone, concrete block, and even asphalt siding. Yet as a whole it is a remarkable piece of architecture, and very pleasing to the pallet. The materials used to build the church do not root or require further maintenance, which is an important aspect of building a lasting community building in a rural environment. No, they couldn’t afford the formal “Presbyterian” church of their neighbors in Rock Hill, Hermon, but they did the best with the materials at hand.
Architecture across S.C. is indeed a patchwork of materials and styles. While returning from a tour of a mid-19th-century plantation home, I asked my guide to stop and allow me to take a photo of a field stone house in Fairfield County, S.C. (Pictured) He was rather taken aback that someone from Roots and Recall would be interested in such a structure. In reality, it was a simple dwelling made of native field stones, designed and constructed by a local engineer- most remarkable!
Not every attempt at using native materials and salvaged architectural parts is a work of art. But one that remains just that, is the Houser Home at Kings Mountain Federal Park. Proportionately, it remains a masterpiece of artisan-ship and design. Only open to the public a couple of times a year, it is well worth a visit.
Stone structures come in all types of design styles, and are worthy of exploring on the pages of R&R. One of those constructed in rural Fairfield County is also worth a visit: Bethel Methodist Church. This was constructed of Winnsboro’s famous blue granite, due to the prevalence of materials. Numerous quarries were located throughout the region and therefore stone was readily available about as easily as picking it up from the furrows of a cotton row. Bethel was constructed just prior to that of the Hopewell Church in Cherokee County, yet the two congregations had been exposed to vastly different architectural styles and elements. It appears the congregation of Hopewell was trying to emulate that of earlier Gothic Revival architecture, while the Bethel Church congregation was embracing far less traditional forms. Both created beautiful structures for the purpose of worship, and we can enjoy each on the pages of Roots and Recall.
A R&R NOTE: The diversity of S.C.’s architecture, people and places makes it an ideal to live and explore. It is not made up of just old plantation houses, but also of an array of history that spans hundreds of years. Perhaps this is why so many individuals outside of the state look to S.C. as a bastion of architectural and cultural importance. It’s not perfect, but for those of us who live here, we kind of appreciate the character that comes from embracing those differences in culture, education, ethnicity, foods, geography, race, and religion. What a boring area the Carolilnas would be if everyone was alike and mutually appreciated shrimp and grits, car racing and collards. But I will admit that I adore two of the three!
From the Porch – Blog @ RootsandRecall.com – 7.27.17