1103 Laurel Street
City Directories and History: Arsenal Hill Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Laurel and Assembly Streets in Columbia, was originally called Second Presbyterian Church. In December 1883, a few members of the First Presbyterian Church organized a mission Sabbath school. They met in the main building of the Old Fair Grounds, which was located on Elmwood Avenue where Logan School was later built. By early 1885, the group had grown and they purchased a lot on Richland Street near Main Street, where they erected a small chapel. Some additional members of First Presbyterian joined the group, and it was organized as a congregation in February 1886 under the
name Second Presbyterian Church. For a century, the congregation was a member of the Presbyterian Church (US). The first minister was Dr. John L. Girardeau, a faculty member at Columbia Theological Seminary. After a year, Girardeau resigned due to his pressing duties at the seminary. In May 1887, Rev. George A. Blackburn was called to be the pastor.
In 1892, the congregation purchased the present site at Laurel and Assembly Streets and built a small church. The same year, the Presbyterian High School was established, using the church facility. At that time, there was no public school system in Columbia. The school continued until 1906, when public schools became available. In 1900, additional property was purchased to provide for the construction of a larger church building. The cornerstone of the present church was laid on February 23, 1904, and the church was dedicated on March 19, 1905. Within two years, a proposal was made to change the name of the church to Arsenal Hill Presbyterian Church, to reflect the church’s location in the neighborhood of that name on a hill overlooking the city. An arsenal was located in the area before and during the Civil War, and the Governor’s Mansion is nearby.
The church has provided leadership in a number of areas. The congregation sponsored the Columbia Men’s Bible Class, the first adult Sunday School program, which met at the old Jefferson Hotel. The Women of the Church established a local program for women working outside the home, an initiative that served as a model for the denomination. Arsenal Hill has sent a number of sons who have served as ministers and missionaries for the church.
In May, 1983, the congregation was transferred from the Presbyterian Church, US to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Source: Church website history. [Written and contributed by P.M. Gettys – 2015]
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
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.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!
IMAGE GALLERY via photographer Bill Segars – 2009
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
Michael says
Arsenal Hill also had the first public high school in Columbia, SC.