An African American History Site
City Directories and History: This remarkable church was constructed by the congregation in 1946. The brochure provided R&R in Jan. 2016, states, “According to researcher Garnett Ann Schultz, the beginnings of Hopewell, can be traced back as far as 1855, when it was first called Shiloh Presbyterian church. Around 1890, with its membership declining at Shiloh, the white congregation sold the church to the growing black community in Kings Greek, S.C. They changed the name to Hopewell Independent Presbyterian church. That church burned to the ground after it was set ablaze by someone in the community.
In 1915, a new Hopewell structure was completed. Members used their carpentry skills. Schultz said, “Even eight pews and other furnishing were formed by their own hand and assembled with wooden pegs.” The first interim and full-time pastors for the church came from Biddle College, now Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. Among these pastors were the late: J.W. Smith, brother of church member Amzi Smith. It is unclear when this congregation changed the name to Hopewell Presbyterian.
Imaged taken in 2016 of the historic Hopewell Pres. Church by R&R. Pictured left to right, Wofford College intern, Will Cobb of Blacksburg, S.C. and S.C. Church photographer Mr. Bill Segars, two regular contributors to Roots and Recall.
During he Great Depression, they began the task of building a new church. This time they decided to build it of stone, “to construct a lasting monument to memorialize their love of God.” Under the pastorship of the Rev. Marvin Flack, the task was completed in 1946. Using any spare time in the day, black farmers gathered stones and rocks from their farmland. They also gathered rocks from along creeks and river beds. They hauled the materials back up to the church site to construct the exterior that you see today. “They would take wagons and go around each other’s farms looking for specific type of rocks,” said Doris Smith Hold, a former member of the church who lives in N.C. members of the church who were masons, carpenters, and farmers, constructed everything in and outside the church except the steeple.” Printed courtesy of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church – 2016
See PDF this page: GUIDE TO PRESBYTERIAN NAMES AND PLACES IN SC by J.B. Martin, III – 1989
Image courtesy of photographer Bill Segars – 2001
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R&R HISTORY LINK: IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD – CALDWELL HOME
R&R HISTORY LINK: IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD – CARROLL OR WARE HOME
R&R HISTORY LINK: IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD – MULBERRY AME CHURCH
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.
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Thanks!
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
Thanks for the history of this church. I have passed many times with curiosity of the structure and history.
Thank you for your note to R&R! Please tell your friends and family, so they too may enjoy the website.
Is there any way I could get a copy of the photo with the men? W Frank Parker is my great uncle, Ed McDaniel and Van Moss are cousins. Thanks!
We will pass on your request to the contributor!