Saint Mark's Episcopal Church of Chester, S.C.

132 Center Street

The Yorkville Enquirer of Jan. 23, 1879 reported – “Work on the ARP church is progressing well. The carpenters work is finished but due to recent weather the plastering and other work on the interior has been delayed. When completed it will compare favorably with any church edifice in the upcountry.” On March 20th the paper further stated: “The dedication of the new Chester ARP Church was held last Saturday. The congregation was organized in 1871 with 18 members. In 1872 they purchased the old Methodist Church and lot for $1,100. They worshiped there until merchant Joseph Wylie began working to begin building a new church. The new building was designed by Mr. Sloan, a Phil. architect. It is of wood in the Gothic style and will seat 300., and includes a Session Room and study for the pastor. Six beautiful chandeliers hang from the ceiling and two stoves heat the building. The outside is a light stone color and the interior is finished in imitation oak. The contractor for the woodwork was Mr. G.A. Albright and the contract for masonry and plastering was Mr. J.R. Simrill. The total cost $2650., which is reduced by Mr. Wylie providing mean of the materials at cost. There is no debt on the new building.”

The Rock Hill Herald reported on July 15, 1880 – “In Chester, S.C. a storm blew down the car shed of the Cheraw and Chester Railroad and lightening damaged the steeple of the Episcopal Church. On July 29 the paper reported the Episcopal Church building has been deemed unsafe.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 27, 1882 – “On Monday of last week the cornerstone of the new Episcopal Church was laid in Chester. Articles from the original church, along with new articles were placed in the new cornerstone. The church will be 25-40 ft and will be a frame structure with a brick foundation. It will be on the old lot but nearer the street. The cost will be $1,200.”

City Directories and History: 1908 – William T. Woods,

Built in 1878-79, an uncommon example of Gothic Revival architecture made highly popular just before the Civil War that continued thriving as public institutions for the following twenty years. This design has been “reported” to be an adaptation of Samuel Sloan’s architectural style, which was widely distributed via books, and news articles. Besides the Episcopal church, the Methodist and ARP’s, have also worship at this sanctuary.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Images courtesy of photographer Bill Segars – 2007

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Architect, Samuel Sloan may have had a hand in providing the inspiration for this handsome building, to local business leader, Mr. Joseph Wylie. More likely, Wylie or the church’s contractor had access to Sloan’s widely used pattern book and worked with the Episcopal Diocese architect: the Rev. McCollough to finalize the plans. See an extensive history this page.

The carpentry was completed by George A. Albright, a highly skilled artisan-carpenter, from Chester and was plastered by J.R. Simrill and painted by Joseph Walker.

Reportedly the church cost a total of $2,600. when completed in 1879.

The Rock Hill Herald on Oct. 4, 1899 reported the congregation of St. Marks has purchased the church formerly used by the ARPs. It has been greatly improved in appearance and refitted throughout before being occupied. It is said the old Episcopal Church will be torn down and a handsome and comfortable rectory will be built.”

THE LEGACY OF REV. JOHN D. MCCOLLOUGH – DESIGNER

Yet, the S.C. Encyclopedia of the Rev. John D. McCollough, proudly proclaims it was his design used as the model for Saint Mark’s Church.

The original church is attributable to Rector, the Rev. John D. McCollough December 8, 1822—January 23, 1902, who provided S.C. some outstanding examples of church architecture from a very early age until his death in 1902.

Original historic church bell – Christ Episcopal Church

Minister, architect. McCollough was born at Society Hill on December 8, 1822, the only child of John Lane McCollough and Sarah DeWitt. Educated at St. David’s Academy and South Carolina College, where he earned both B.A. and M.A. degrees in 1840, McCollough then became a Society Hill farmer. In June 1842 he married Harriet Bell Hart. He returned to Columbia in 1847 to prepare for the Episcopal ministry with the Reverend Peter Shand, rector of Trinity, Columbia.

In January 1848 McCullough moved his family to Glenn Springs in Spartanburg District, where he continued his theological studies, designed a small wooden church for the resort village, and carved its interior furnishings. The diocesan magazine called it “a happy specimen of simple Gothic,” with a “proper” (deeply recessed) chancel and tower.

In July 1850 Bishop C. E. Gadsden consecrated Calvary, Glenn Springs; ordained McCollough; and appointed him rector of the Church of the Advent in Spartanburg. After designing a temporary chapel for his tiny new congregation and starting missionary activity in Union, Yorkville, and Anderson, he began supervising construction for a permanent Spartanburg church and opened St. John’s Episcopal School for boys.

A craftsman without formal training, McCollough was nevertheless aware of the new ideas that were transforming Episcopal church architecture. “Ecclesiologists,” influenced by the high-church Oxford movement in England, emphasized the relationship between theology and architecture, believing that new churches should mirror fourteenth-century English Gothic design. Recessed chancels, dark interiors, stained glass, pointed arches, battlements, and cross-topped spires replaced Georgian simplicity. These concepts were disseminated to American churchmen through the journal of the New York Ecclesiology Society. A series of articles on “proper” church architecture in the Gospel Messenger, the diocesan magazine, disseminated these ideas to South Carolina.

In the decade before the Civil War, McCollough designed or was supervising architect for seven ecclesiological churches: Christ Church, Greenville (1854); St. Stephen’s, Ridgeway (1854); Nativity, Union (1859); Christ Church, Mars Bluff (1859); St. Mark’s, Chester (1860); Grace, Anderson (1860); and Advent, Spartanburg (begun 1852, consecrated 1864).

He moved in 1857 to Winnsboro and later to Union. In 1859 he returned to Spartanburg and Advent, serving as chaplain with Holcombe’s Legion during the Civil War. During Reconstruction, desperately poor South Carolinians could no longer build expensive churches. In the postbellum years McCollough provided far simpler designs for churches at Rock Hill, Gaffney, Lancaster, Blacksburg, Willington, Greenwood, Clemson, and Saluda in North Carolina.

In 1874 McCollough resigned as Spartanburg rector, but he continued missionary activity, starting congregations in Gaffney, Blacksburg, Walhalla, and Seneca and serving at Glenn Springs, Union, and Chester. He moved to Walhalla in 1890 to become rector of St. John’s, which he may have designed. He certainly was the architect for the second Calvary, Glenn Springs, and with his son, Edward, designed St. Andrews, Greenville, which was completed posthumously. McCollough died on January 23, 1902. He was buried at the Church of the Advent in Spartanburg.

Source: Bainbridge, Judith T. “Building the Walls of Jerusalem”: John DeWitt McCollough and His Churches. Spartanburg, S.C.: Reprint Company, 2000. (http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/mccollough-john-dewitt/)

Informative links: National Register, Gothic Revival Architecture, Samuel Sloan

George Albright was involved in building a number of structures in Chester. He was a contemporary of J. R. Simrill. An article in the Chester Lantern 10 January 1889, describes the progress being made on the “Cotton factory building, under the superintending of President Hardin, and with brick and wood work under the management of Mr. J. R. Simrill and Mr. G. A. Albright.” (Cotton Manufacturing Company, Built 1888). The J. R. Simrill home on Saluda Street was built by George Albright according to an article in “The Chester Reporter,” May 26, 1876. An article in “The Chester Reporter” of 27 March 1879 describing the new Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (now the Episcopal Church) describes the church thus: “This new church edifice is of striking neatness and beauty. Its architecture is of Gothic Style. The design by architect, (Samuel) Sloan was selected by Mr. Joseph Wylie . . . The woodwork of the church was done by Mr. G. A. Albright, the masonry and plastering by Mr. J. R. Simrill.”

(Information in part from: Chester County Heritage Book, Vol. I, Edt. by Collins – Knox, Published by the Chester Co Hist. Society – Jostens Printing, 1982)

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R&R HISTORY LINK: The old John Albright House of Chester SC

R&R HISTORY LINK: The old Simrill House of Chester SC

R&R HISTORY LINK: The Albright Contractors of Chester SC

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IMAGE GALLERY – Courtesy of photographer Bill Segars, 2016