127 Tom Hall Street
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 30, 1884 – “The Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill will soon begin erection of a new Parsonage.” Later the Herald on June 3, 1886 reported – “The church has received the new parsonage from the Building Committee. It was completed at a cost of $1,765. and the Rev. J.H. Thornwell has now move in. Mrs. K.H. Belk, the widow of Mr. W.S. Belk has provided $225., to build a room to be used as a study and officers room.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of Sept. 8, 1886 reported – “The Charleston earthquake was felt all over York County. There seems to be little damage, but the Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill has been cracked at both end walls.”
City Directories and History: The church began meeting in 1788 and built the current church in 1881. The builder was Zeb Bradford. The Rock Hill Herald reported on April 28, 1881 – “The Presbyterians at Fort Mill will begin before long the erection of a new church at that place. A considerable amount of money has already been raised.” The Herald later stated on July 28, 1881 – “Mr. Durant and Mr. Stewart (Mr. W.H.), are engaged in making brick for the Pres. Church in Fort Mill. They will make about 300,000 brick.”
The Herald reported on March 9, 1882 – “The new Presbyterian church in Fort Mill is almost completed. It is a very handsome brick edifice measuring 40 ft by 65 ft., and cost about $4,000.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on March 13, 1884 – “The Fort Mill Pres. Church is now heated by a furnace.”
The Herald reported on April 22, 1886 – “The Pres. Church in Fort Mill is receiving the finishing touches from the painter’s brush.”
BRIEF HISTORY OF FORT MILL’S UNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH —1788 to 1902
The Presbyterian church at Fort Mill was organized the 18th day of March, 1788, by the Whites, McKees, Webbs, Barnetts, Spratts, Springses and Harrisses and others, all from Waxhaw church except the Spratts and Springses. The dedication sermon was preached by the Rev. James McRea. The present church is the fourth building. The first building was erected prior to 1788 and was located between the waters of Sugar and Steel creeks on the York side, but only a short distance from the line. The name given the first church was Unity, so called from the fact that while York and Lancaster, in England, were rivals, the people of York and Lancaster counties, by their united efforts, had just completed this building. The name was changed from Unity to Fort Mill in 1876.8 The second building was erected in 1804, one mile west of the first location on land given by Thomas Spratt. It was a log house with twelve corners. The third building was erected in 1839 on the lot now owned by W. F. Harris, while the fourth, erected in 1881, is the one now worshiped in. Of the twenty-two names upon the roll of the church in 1860, only two are now living —Mrs. L. N. Culp and Mr. T. G. Culp. Twenty-five preachers have filled the pulpit, ranging from a few months service to the many years pastorate of Rev. James H. Thornwell. – The Yorkville Enquirer; March 22,1902.
Also see PDF history this page: GUIDE TO PRESBYTERIAN NAMES AND PLACES IN SC by J.B. Martin, III – 1989
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