{"id":844,"date":"2015-02-09T16:10:54","date_gmt":"2015-02-09T16:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/sumter\/?post_type=buildings&p=844"},"modified":"2022-04-01T14:06:20","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T14:06:20","slug":"brick-church","status":"publish","type":"buildings","link":"https:\/\/www.rootsandrecall.com\/sumter\/buildings\/brick-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Brick Church – Sumter County, S.C."},"content":{"rendered":"

“The height of Greek Revival church architecture and antebellum construction.”<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

1060 Brick Church Road<\/h4>\n

City Directories and History:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Historically and architecturally, one of the state’s most interesting churches, this appears to have been built in circa 1846 by local contractor, Mr. L.J. Coughlin or Caghlan. The plans for the church can be seen in the Miller Family files at the South Caroliniana Library along with other work performed by Mr. Coughlin in the area. \u00a0The S.C. Artisans Database recorded the builder as a Sumter County businessman in 1850 worth about $7,500., operating a steam driven sawmill, one of the earliest in the region.<\/p>\n

(Brick Church) Salem Black River Presbyterian Church, built in 1846, is a well-preserved example of Greek Revival<\/span><\/a> architecture. From the time of its organization in the mid-eighteenth century until the present, Salem Church has played an important role in the development of history of the surrounding rural community. The church has been virtually unaltered since its construction. It features massive stucco-over-brick columns, a gable roof and a pedimented portico. Basilican in plan, the interior of Salem Black River Church is simple. A slave gallery extends along three sides and is supported by square paneled wooden pillars. Listed in the National Register November 14, 1978<\/p>\n

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Article written and contributed by historian – photographer Bill Segars – 2015<\/p>\n

Part I<\/strong> –\u00a0Several weeks ago I mentioned that when a local person finds out about my interest in old churches, they invariably will ask about two buildings; Pisgah in Florence County is one and our church this week, Salem Black River Presbyterian in Sumter County is more than likely the other one.\u00a0 Both are very striking in appearance and are located on well-traveled roads.\u00a0 After fielding questions about both buildings over the last 12 years, less seems to be known about Salem than Pisgah. It\u2019s almost mystical in the unknown air of this building.<\/p>\n

\"Salem

Salem Black River Presbyterian Church – Courtesy of the Segars Collection<\/p><\/div>\n

Salem, located at 1060 North Brick Church Road (Hwy 527) outside of Mayesville, is in a more remote area than Pisgah.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t have a church office or a regular preacher so there is very seldom a car parked at the building.\u00a0 So it just sits beside the road all by its self, leaving everyone that sees it to wonder about its history.\u00a0 Does it have an active congregation? \u00a0If so when do they meet?\u00a0 The questions run from one end of the spectrum to the other, but all are interesting.\u00a0 There is a historical marker in the front yard and many people do stop by to read it, the marker only peaks their interest for more information concerning this stately building.<\/p>\n

The present building is old, built in 1846, but Salem Meeting House was established well before that, in 1759, as a daughter church of Williamsburg Presbyterian in Kingstree.\u00a0 David Anderson, a captain in the militia, donated a portion of his 300 acre 1753 land grant near the Black River for the construction of a log meeting house.\u00a0 In 1768 that building was torn down and a wood framed building was erected on the same ground, facing the Kingstree to Camden road.\u00a0 In 1780 it was around this building that Gen. Thomas Sumter\u2019s militia and Lt. Col. Banastre (Bloody) Tarleton\u2019s British regulars bivouacked under the trees at different times as they tracked each other in the American Revolutionary backwoods battle.\u00a0 Luckily Tarleton left without burning the church, which he had a habit of doing.\"Salem \"Salem<\/p>\n

\"Salem

Salem Black River Presbyterian Church – Images courtesy of the Segars Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n

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After the Revolutionary War, the Scots-Irish in the area felt the need for a larger, more substantial building that they built using brick in 1802, again on the same sacred ground.\u00a0 By now the name of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church had been adopted.\u00a0 This brick building served the congregation well for 44 years, but the congregation may not have served the building well; because by the early 1840\u2019s their building was determined to be \u201cbeyond repair\u201d.<\/p>\n

A committee of six men was established to begin the process of building a new building, what we would know today as \u201cthe building committee\u201d.\u00a0 These men drew the basic plans for the present building on one sheet of paper.\u00a0 The plan was enough information for the J. Lomas & Company, of Columbia, to provide a price of $5,620 to build the designed building.\u00a0 It was also agreed that the thousands of brick needed to construct the exterior solid brick walls would be made from the clay that could be found locally.<\/p>\n

The 2709 square foot building is truly a marvel of construction for any time frame, but particularly for 1846.\u00a0 Its Greek Revival style building measures 45\u2019 8\u201d X 59\u2019 4\u201d plus a 8\u2019 X 45\u2019 8\u201d front porch.\u00a0 This article, and others, has mentioned \u201csolid brick walls\u201d, this term means that even each brick is a solid unit (a brick unit not having holes, as most people are accustom to seeing today), but the entire wall is brick in its thickness (no wood studs as most people are accustom to seeing today).\u00a0 A \u201csolid brick wall\u201d is a load bearing wall, the roof and floor load is carried and supported by these walls.\u00a0 Here at Salem, the foundation walls are 24\u201d thick and the main wall between the pilasters are 16\u201d thick.\u00a0 The thinnest walls, 8\u201d thick, are the two gable wall in the attic.\u00a0 The pilasters, an extra thickness of brick, are positions in specific location due to extra load support needed at that location, rather than simply for appearance.<\/p>\n

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R&R HISTORY LINK: Colton’s 1850s Map of Sumter County<\/p><\/div>\n

Entering the interior of Salem Black River is as if you\u2019re stepping back in time. \u00a0It has been repaired due to Hugo damage, but it maintains its original charm in many of the original elements.\u00a0 The pews are handmade of pine lumber that has been faux painted to resemble oak wood.\u00a0 The pews maintain the original doors with numbers assigned to individual families that rented that particular pew.\u00a0 The pew rental rate depended on the location of that pew as it related to the pulpit.\u00a0 It is recorded in the early years of the church, that if all of the pews were rented, $945 per year could be raised; typically this money was assigned to pay the preacher.\u00a0 The balcony railing was made in Charleston by Mr. W. T. White for the cost of $148. 41.\u00a0 The freight charge to have it delivered from Charleston was $3.88.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s enough construction lesson for one session, let\u2019s get back to the history of the building itself.\u00a0 Even though the building appears to be original, and in fact it has not changed in size or appearance, it has been maintained.\u00a0 Primarily its repairs have occurred due to natural disasters.\u00a0 Six large steel shields, which are attached to three steel earthquake rods running through the 45\u2019 8\u201d width of the building, can be seen up high on the exterior walls.\u00a0 These were installed after August 31, 1886, when Charleston was struck by an approximate 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale earthquake which shook the east coast.\u00a0\u00a0 Then the copper roof was replaced after September 22, 1989 due to Hugo.\u00a0 Other minor repairs, some helpful and some not as much, have been performed over the building\u2019s 169 year life; all was done not to have a repeat of the 1802 building\u2019s \u201cbeyond repair\u201d condition.<\/p>\n

There are many more interesting facts about this building and the people that love it enough to make sacrifices.\u00a0 Next week you will be able to learn more about these facts and most importantly how you can witness the feeling of worshiping in and serving in this historic jewel affectionately known as Old Brick Church.<\/p>\n

Part II<\/strong> – Last week hopefully you learned more about Salem Black River Presbyterian than you knew before.\u00a0 This week you\u2019ll have the opportunity to learn more about the close surrounding area.\u00a0 I\u2019m beginning to accept that not everyone enjoys and appreciates history (I don\u2019t understand that, but I do accept that).\u00a0 I\u2019ll admit that sometimes reading history can be dis-interesting, but living history puts learning in a completely different perspective, tangible, fun.\u00a0 This is the opportunity that you\u2019ll discover this week, living history of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church.<\/p>\n

When you visit Salem you see a small white wood frame building behind the main church building.\u00a0 This is Salem\u2019s Session House, a building where the business of the church was conducted, including \u201cthe trials of members who had fallen from grace\u201d.\u00a0 Salem and many other churches of this period kept meticulous records of \u201ctrials\u201d of their members.\u00a0 Now is not the time to delve into this subject, but if you every get the chance to read these records, you\u2019ll never watch another Soap Opera again, you\u2019ll be a history buff.<\/p>\n

The Session House was built at the same time that the church was built, 1846, by the J. Lomas Company from the simple plan of \u201cit was to be built not less than twenty four feet long by fifteen feet wide and three feet from the ground to the floor\u201d.\u00a0 This contract was entered between the two parties for a cost of $225.\u00a0 Oh the simple life of trust, how sweet it is.<\/p>\n

Behind the Session House you\u2019ll find the graveyard.\u00a0 By all means take the time to reverently stroll through this burial ground.\u00a0 It is perfectly laid out and very easy to navigate through.\u00a0 Many notable individuals have been laid to rest here with the earliest marked grave being 1794.\u00a0 I realize that I do not need to tell anyone that is reading this article, but when you enter the wrought iron gates, you\u2019re entering a graveyard, sacred ground.\u00a0 Some people that enter do not understand that and they do things that their \u201cMother would not be proud of\u201d.\u00a0 The graveyard is not haunted, it\u2019s a final resting place, please treat it as such.<\/p>\n

The final historic building on the property is also in the graveyard.\u00a0 For your convenience, there is a period, operational outhouse available to you.\u00a0 The best feature about this building is that you can bring five of your closest friends with you, because it has six holes.\u00a0 This is truly living history.<\/p>\n

Now back on the serious side of living history.\u00a0 Salem Black River does in fact have an active congregation and they do hold regular services.\u00a0 These services are not held just for a time to worship the risen Lord, but an opportunity to keep everyone in attendance grounded to their<\/p>\n

historical roots.\u00a0 Member or not, everyone is welcome to feel the moving experience of worshiping in an old House of God where the shutters are opened and the windows raised to allow the cool breeze to blow through.\u00a0 Salem\u2019s membership, as to attendance, is very similar to your church, just smaller numbers.\u00a0 Salem has 30 members on the roll and their average active attendance is 14, 14 people in a 2709 square foot building, so there is plenty of room for visitors.<\/p>\n

SESSION HOUSE IMAGE GALLERY<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t