200 West Washington Street
City Directories and History: This lovely church, First Presbyterian of Greenville was constructed originally in 1883 for a cost of $24,500. with additional and renovations in 1929, 1960 and 1987.
R&R HISTORY THREAD: First Scots Pres. Church Charleston, S.C.
MINISTRY OF MR BUIST: While Rev. Edward T. Buist was preaching in various churches in southern Greenville County, he also taught a small school in a building on the grounds of his house. Students included his sons, nephews, and sons of neighbors and parishioners. Sometime before 1858, he was elected as President and Professor at the Laurensville Female Academy in Laurensville (now Laurens). The family moved there. The academy had been established in 1829 and in 1856, the Presbytery of South Carolina took control. Rev. Buist is listed as President, Treasurer, and Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy and Ancient Languages.[1] The college had primary, academic and collegiate departments, and by 1860 had an enrollment of 128. With the advent of the Civil War the college closed, and Rev. Buist moved his family to the City of Greenville. He was soon called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, where was installed on May 4, 1862.
Rev. Buist had a strong and successful pastorate in Greenville, where he was described as “eminent in learning, with marked ability as a preacher and during his administration, he kept the church out of debt…” even during the difficult times of the Civil War and Reconstruction.[2]
It was related that, during the war, he would go to the Greenville rail depot, secure a copy of a Columbia newspaper, and read the war news to people assembled there, most of whom could not afford a paper or could not read.[3] His successful ministry was cut short by his sudden death in 1877 at the age of 68. He is buried in Springwood Cemetery in Greenville…… (Click on the More Information / Rev. Buist History link, under the primary image for additional data on the Buist Family.)
Also see PDF this page: GUIDE TO PRESBYTERIAN NAMES AND PLACES IN SC by J.B. Martin, III – 1989
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Postcard images courtesy of the Willis Collection – 2016
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