2160 Smith Ford Road
York County History: The land on which Mount Vernon Methodist Church stands on Smith Ford Road was originally deeded in August 1862. The first structure built was a plain frame building and featured a slave gallery and separate doors for each sex to enter into the building. In 1909, a new frame structure was erected about 200 feet closer to Smith Ford road. Originally of frame construction and siding, this structure was brick veneered in 1928-1929. In the early 1950’s a new education building was erected.
MT. VERNON M. E. CHURCH – The First Built at Hickory Grove
(The following article on Mount Vernon Methodist Episcopal Church was written by James Lyles Strain and appeared in The Yorkville Enquirer, November 3, 1908.)
The Yorkville Enquirer of June 26, 1889 reported – “The Methodist Church in Hickory Grove has long been known as Mt. Vernon. The present officers are: Ed Leech, William Wilkerson, J.M. Whisonant, and Jeff D. Smith. They have recently painted the church and installed new seats.”
The YV Enquirer reported on March 8, 1893 – “Mount Vernon Church at Hickory Grove recently had a narrow escape. The church officials had just installed a set of heavy three quart lamps and suspended them from the ceiling by ropes. One fell and burst into flames. The congregation brought in earth and smoothened the fire.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Oct. 11, 1895 – “Work has begun on the new Methodist Parsonage in Hickory Grove.” Also from the paper on Oct. 25, 1895 – “Mr. R.A. Foster is working on the Methodist Parsonage at Hickory Grove.”
Several years ago I wrote for The Enquirer a series of letters under the caption “Reminiscences of Western York,” but was never able to give a full or satisfactory “write up” of Mount Vernon church, for the reason I could never find the records. These with other data that might and would have aided greatly in the work, had been lost or mislaid during the war, when people of that section had been forced to hide out most of their valuables , papers, etc., in order that they might escape the torch and touch of Sherman’s army vandals of the nineteenth century. The records of the church books, papers, rolls, etc., were kept by the late Perry Dye or William Berry, the latter better known to the people of his day as little ‘Billy Berry.’ However, these records were never found that I know of, and as Mr. Berry was killed or died, the information they contained could never be produced. Hence only such matters as were retained in the memory was the only available materials I had to use in writing the history of Mount Vernon (M.E.) church. …
Away back in the early thirties, Mr. Abram Smith, a large land owner, proposed to the people of his section that he would give a lot of land and the timber necessary to build a house of worship to be used by the different denominations for that purpose. … At that time there was no church building near there, and Mr. Smith’s proposition was taken up and the result was a splendid log house was erected. By common consent they agreed to call it ‘Unity’ and the place is still known by that name. Here they each worshiped for years, and each organized a church of its own except the A.R. Presbyterians, but they had regular preaching there. The Baptists and the Methodists were the strongest—numerically, and these kept up their regular meetings while the ‘Seceders’ would drop in and preach a day now and then. The Methodist conference had their ‘circuit rider’ to fill his regular appointments there for several years, and some of them were able and consecrated men, too. Both these denominations, (Baptist and Methodist), increased in membership and influence until each had a strong church for that day. So far as I know, or ever heard of, there was no friction between the different denominations—all went on nicely and the members attended the services of each other’s church, generally.
About the year 1856 or ‘57, the Methodist people concluded they wanted a better house in which to worship and began a movement in that direction. But like it is at the present day, some thought it impracticable. They couldn’t see how they .could go that expense, particularly, while they had a claim on the old church. Rev. J. W. North was then their preacher and he urged the building of a church of their own, and he never lost an opportunity to put in a word for it either in the pulpit or elsewhere. . . . they determined to build the house, and the work was begun and carried out and the present house is the result of their effort. The contract was let to the Bums brothers—John and Sam, and in 1858 (in June or July) it was dedicated. Rev. John W. Kelly, presiding elder, preached the dedicatory sermon … .A very large congregation was present at the dedication, not over one-half of whom get inside the house. By the way, that was the first time your correspondent ever met Col. Samuel Jefferies, now of Gaffney. He was then a slim, lithe young man, weighing about 135 pounds and about as full of talk as he is today . Mr. North continued on the circuit for four years and during that time he courted and married Miss Dye, a daughter of the late Perry Dye, a leading and influential member of Mount Vernon church.
There was some considerable discussion about the name of the church. A number of the members wanted to call by some Bible name, but they finally agreed to call it Mount Vernon after the home and last resting place of the ‘Father of his Country’—George Washington. With the exception of the nails and glass used in building the house, there was not a single article of the material but grew in York county. The lumber was dressed by hand, the framework put together with mortise and tenon, and it was a model house when finished. The sash, blinds and doors were made at home. Some years ago, the writer was there when the matter of recovering the house and making some other repairs came up, and Mr. W. S. Wilkerson made the remark that he didn’t suppose there was a single member present who had ever paid out a cent for its repairing or beautifying, and was time that this (their generation) should do something for it. Up till the war, your correspondent attended this church.
For several years Mr. Fletcher Bums was superintendent of the Sunday school there, and these services were generally attended by a large number of the young people and several of the heads of families were regular attendants. We had none of the lesson help as now used. Each scholar took his Bible and the lesson was set one day for the next. The main exercise of the school was Bible reading and singing. The superintendent, minister (when he was present on preaching days) or some one else would make a talk on the lesson and in the course of his remarks would throw out questions to test the scholars’ knowledge of the lesson.
On Friday 21 of December, 1860, (the day after South Carolina seceded from the Federal Union), the Sons of Temperance had a rally at Mount Vernon and a large congregation was present. Hon. W. C. Beatty of Yorkville, Rev. R. A. Ross, Hon. I. D. Witherspoon, Sr., Rev. Samuel L. Watson and other eminent speakers were invited to make addresses. But owing to the continuous rains and bad roads none of them came. Rev. James R. Castles was the only speaker present and he made a good talk. The rain had been falling for about two days and Broad river, Bullock’s creek, Clark’s Fork and King’s creek were all out over the lowlands and kept many away from the meeting. It was estimated that at least 600 people were present, 150 of whom who were Sons of Temperance.
MT. VERNON M. E. CHURCH The First Built at Hickory Grove (The following article on Mount Vernon Methodist Episcopal Church was written by James Lyles Strain and appeared in The Yorkville Enquirer, November 3, 1908.) Several years ago I wrote for The Enquirer a series of letters under the caption “Reminiscences of Western York,” but was never able to give a full or satisfactory “write up” of Mount Vernon church, for the reason I could never find the records. These with other data that might and would have aided greatly in the work, had been lost or mislaid during the war, when people of that section had been forced to hide out most of their valuables, papers, etc., in order that they might escape the torch and touch of Sherman’s army vandals of the nineteenth century. The records of the church books, papers, rolls, etc., were kept by the late Perry Dye or William Berry, the latter better known to the people of his day as little ‘Billy Berry.’ However, these records were never found that I know of, and as Mr. Berry was killed or died, the information they contained could never be produced. Hence only such matters as were retained in the memory was the only available materials I had to use in writing the history of Mount Vernon (M.E.) church. … Away back in the early thirties, Mr. Abram Smith, a large land owner, proposed to the people of his section that he would give a lot of land and the timber necessary to build a house of worship to be used by the different denominations for that purpose. …
At that time there was no church building near there, and Mr. Smith’s proposition was taken up and the result was a splendid log house was erected. By common consent they agreed to call it ‘Unity’ and the place is still known by that name. Here they each worshipped for years, and each organized a church of its own except the A. R. Presbyterians, but they had regular preaching there. The Baptists and the Methodists were the strongest—numerically, and these kept up their regular meetings while the ‘Seceders’ would drop in and preach a day now and then. The Methodist conference had their ‘circuit rider’ to fill his regular appointments there for several years, and some of them were able and consecrated men, too. Both these denominations, (Baptist and Methodist), increased in membership and influence until each had a strong church for that day. So far as 1 know, or ever heard of, there was no friction between the different denominations—all went on nicely and the members attended the services of each other’s church, generally. About the year 1856 or ‘57, the Methodist people concluded they wanted a better house in which to worship and began a movement in that direction. But like it is at the present day, some thought it impracticable. They couldn’t see how they could go that expense, particularly, while they had a claim on the old church. Rev. J. W. North was then their preacher and he urged the building of a church of their own, and he never lost an opportunity to put in a word for it either in the pulpit or elsewhere. . . . they determined to build the house, and the work was begun and carried out and the present house is the result of their effort. The contract was let to the Burns brothers—John and Sam, and in 1858 (in June or July) it was dedicated. Rev. John W. Kelly, presiding elder, preached the dedicatory sermon..
A very large congregation was present at the dedication, not over one-half of whom get inside the house. By the way, that was the first time your correspondent ever met Col. Samuel Jefferies, now of Gaffney. He was then a slim, lithe young man, weighing about 135 pounds and about as full of talk as he is today. Mr. North continued on the circuit for four years and during that time he courted and married Miss Dye, a daughter of the late Perry Dye, a leading and influential member of Mount Vernon church. There was some considerable discussion about the name of the church. A number of the members wanted to call by some Bible name, but they finally agreed to call it Mount Vernon after the home and last resting place of the ‘Father of his Country’—George Washington.
With the exception of the nails and glass used in building the house, there was not a single article of the material but grew in York county. The lumber was dressed by hand, the framework put together with mortise and tenon, and it was a model house when finished. The sash, blinds and doors were made at home. Some years ago, the writer was there when the matter of recovering the house and making some other repairs came up, and Mr. W. S. Wilkerson made the remark that he didn’t suppose there was a single member present who had ever paid out a cent for its repairing or beautifying, and was time that this (their generation) should do something for it Up till the war, your correspondent attended this church.
For several years Mr. Fletcher Bums was superintendent of the Sunday school there, and these services were generally attended by a large number of the young people and several of the heads of families were regular attendants. We had none of the lesson help as now used. Each scholar took his Bible and the lesson was set one day for the next. The main exercise of the school was Bible reading and singing. The superintendent, minister (when he was present on preaching days) or some one else would make a talk on the lesson and in the course of his remarks would throw out questions to test the scholars’ knowledge of the lesson. – Information from The Yorkville Enquirer, November 3, 1908 and the YCGHS Magazine – March 1998
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The present structure has an impressive sanctuary with Gothic stained glass windows on the side as well as square ones on the front facade. The church bell tower has a pressed metal roof.
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