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City Directories and History: The quaint white church building off Dave Jenkins Road is a fine example of rural church architecture with a well maintained cemetery. Antioch Methodist Church, 1890 – 1946, was easily accessible at the intersection of two early routes and on a high piece of ground allowing ease of access.
Gathering at the Antioch Methodist Church – Courtesy of the Fairfield Co Museum.
No services have been held at this old church since approximately 1950. Local carpenter, William James Jenkins built the pulpit and pews, while John G. Wolling’s saw mill provided materials and hardware.
Postal Map from 1896, showing the locations of the P.O. sites in western Fairfield County, including the small community of Wolling. Courtesy of the Un. of N.C.
Antioch Methodist Church is a testimonial to neighbors and families of origin there to save an otherwise abandoned church building and cemetery. Led in the 1990’s by Patsy Blair Ligon and her brother Frank Blair, these two and other members of the Blair, Coleman, Feaster, and Mobley descendants have saved this lovely country church and cemetery. History is written heavily in the cemetery of this very early Methodist Church.
Wolling P.O. was located north of the Feasterville Academy and Boarding House on Highway 215 near Purity Church. The 20 News and Herald
Ten years ago there was only a cabin to mark the place. Mr. John G. Wolling, the ‘Indendant,’ is a veritable Selkirk … He is postmaster, farmer, notary public, the only merchant in the place, he owns there a saw mill, public gin, blacksmith shop, is chairman of the school trustees, and does the hospitalities of the place which is named for him. of November 7, 1888 gives the following description of Wolling:
A native of Florida, Wolling married the daughter of Nathan A. Feaster. The 1900 census lists Wolling as a farmer with his sons John Jr. listed as a merchant and Trezvant as a clerk. The settlement is not cited on the 1908 Fairfield map as having a post office however, it was denoted as a polling place.
(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)
Open the MORE INFORMATION link (found under the primary picture), to view an enlargeable, 1896 Postal Map of Fairfield County, S.C.
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The Antioch Methodist Church was the home church for the Fee Family. I went to church there as a girl. I remember the dinners under the trees there. Thank you for preserving the church. Joan