The Laurens Advertiser on June 20, 1893 reported – “The chandelier of the Methodist church in Clinton, which had eight heavy lamps, fell on Sunday night June 11. The oil caught fire but the flames were extinguished before much damage was done.”
City Directories and History: “By reason of the fact that members of a family preserved a Bible belonging to the late James M. Wright, long time superintendent of a union Sunday school conducted in a Methodist church, present members of Broad Street Methodist Church in Clinton have a date from which to trace their beginning as a church group. The inscription on the flyleaf bears the date August 8, 1857. Some time prior to this date, the old Mount Zion Methodist Church about a mile northwest of Clinton was moved to Clinton, and apparently was the beginning of the organization now known as the Broad Street Methodist Church.
Little is known of the early accomplishments of this church, for records before 1881 have not been kept. However, the fact that it has grown consistently and has been a leader in the religious life of Clinton is an unwritten record of the dedication of the membership and influence in the community.
In 1970 dedication services were held for a new sanctuary building at Broad Street Methodist Church. The beautiful new structure replaced one which was built in 1914.”
Information from: The Laurens County Sketchbook, Author – J.S. Bolick, 1973
“Methodism came to Clinton in 1854, and it was one of the first churches of any denomination to be established in the town. The roots of the first congregation are traced to the old Zion Church that was established in 1826. Clinton Methodists have erected four buildings. The first small building, located at the corner of West Main and Laurens Streets, was replaced in 1880 by a larger frame structure. By 1904, the congregation had grown, and a larger brick church was erected. In 1914, a modern well-equipped church was built on the corner of North Broad and Ferguson Streets. The present church was constructed in 1970, and on Palm Sunday of that year, the first service of worship was held in the new sanctuary.” Information from: Laurens Co Postcard Series, LCMA, Arcadia Publishing – 2007
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