Our History

Mayesville Presbyterian Church is located in the historic farming community of Mayesville, South Carolina, about 15 minutes from downtown Sumter, SC.  Between the years 1875 and 1880, settlers in Mayesville who had come down from Virginia and up the Black River from the coastal region of South Carolina recognized the need for a church in the community.  A majority of those settlers were attending the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church and Mount Zion Presbyterian Church.  In October 1880, at the fall meeting of Harmony Presbytery at Liberty Hill Church in Kershaw County, an application was made to form a church.  The application was favorably received and a group of presbytery members were appointed to a committee to organize Mayesville Presbyterian Church.

On Saturday, January 8, 1881, the committee met at Salem Lodge #141 Hall in Mayesville.  According to records, "The committee was joined by a large number of persons not withstanding the inclemency of the weather.  The temperature was below freezing and the ground covered with snow.  After a sermon by The Rev. J.S. Crosby from 1 Timothy 5:17, in which the Presbyterian form of government by ruling and teaching elders was ably defended, the committee proceeded to the work of organization." 

The next day, The Rev. Wilson James (W.J.) McKay preached on Romans 5:1 and the newly formed congregation celebrated the Lord's Supper.  A congregational meeting was held on January 16, the primary purpose of which was to elect a pastor.  The Rev. W.J. McKay was unanimously elected. 

A meeting was called on January 23, 1881, for the purpose of completing the organization of the church.  Among the array of business conducted on that date was the approval of the creation of a Sabbath School that would be open to children of all denominations.

A building committee was promptly formed.  Initially, steady progress was made in the raising of funds, hiring of an architect, etc.  However, a crop failure in 1882, combined with the continuing economic struggles in the aftermath of Reconstruction, slowed the committee's efforts.  By 1885, a portion of the church building had been erected but serious issues with its construction stalled the project yet again.  During this time, the congregation continued to worship at Salem Lodge #141.  One difficulty after another made the realization of the congregation's own place of worship a seemingly distant dream.

One point of interest from this period is the invitation extended by Mayesville Baptist Church for the congregation to use its building for public worship until such time as their own church building was ready for use.  The Mayesville Presbyterian elders sent a grateful reply declining the invitation, writing that "since it is very uncertain how long it will be before the erection of our church and the probable changes in time of worship for both groups, the present arrangement is considered best for both congregations."  It was signed "with love and appreciation."

Finally, the day came that the building was ready for use, and the dedication was set for April 17, 1892.  Of that celebration, it is recorded that a "very large congregation assembled, the members of several neighboring churches meeting with us and the fair church building was well filled."  The Rev. W.J. McKay preached the sermon, taking for his text Ephesians 2:21. 

In 1975, there once again came a need for a building committee.  On May 23, 1975, lightning struck the bell tower and engulfed the church building in flames.  Records describe the event as follows:  "The Mayesville Presbyterian Church building was completely destroyed by fire -- struck by lightning Friday evening at seven o'clock on May 23, 1975.  The lightning hit the bell in the tower and melted a large hole in its side.  The tower was engulfed in flames and large, burning, fat lightwood beams fell to set the building aflame.  Everything in the church was lost.  The men fought to save the Sunday school building and the manse and succeeded.  A large crowd with fire engines from many communities was present."

Five days later, on May 27, a building committee had been formed and plans for a new house of worship were underway.  The new building was completed about two years later.  The first service was held on April 17, 1977 -- exactly 85 years after the first building was dedicated.  However, the dedication of the new building was deferred to December 4 in order to first complete the installation of the pipe organ.

In the mid 1980s, Mayesville Presbyterian Church became a congregation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.  The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized in Philadelphia on November 1, 1782 with the merger of Associate Presbyterians and Reformed Presbyterians, both of which originated in Scotland. 

Mayesville Presbyterian Church is theologically reformed in what we believe and teach.  We believe the Bible to be God’s Word, infallible and inerrant in all that it teaches.  We are a confessional church in that we believe that the Westminster Confession of Faith, together with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, accurately summarize the teaching of Scripture and the theological foundations upon which we stand.  Our church is Presbyterian in government and Calvinistic in doctrine.

Source: History of Mayesville Presbyterian Church and the Messages of Its Windows by Ethel (Dicki) Cooper Turner

Some of the individuals that seeded Mayesville Presbyterian Church were members of Salem Black River Church.  A log building (1759), wooden frame building (1788) and an earlier brick building (1802) preceded the present building (erected 1846), pictured above.

 Other founding members of Mayesville Presbyterian Church came from Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church in Bishopville, SC.  Pictured above is the present church building, erected in 1911.  It was preceded by two wood frame buildings (1809, 1830). 

Our History at a Glance

Our History at a Glance

1875-1880
Settlers from Virginia and the Coastal Plain region of South Carolina identify a need for a church in the community

October 1880
Application to form a church made to Harmony Presbytery

January 1881
Mayesville Presbyterian Church organized;

services held in local lodge building

April 17, 1892
First church building dedicated

1907
Manse completed

1952
Sunday school wing completed

May 1975
Church building destroyed by fire from lightning strike

April 17, 1977
First service held in the new sanctuary

December 4, 1977

Dedication of the new church building

May 30, 1983
The congregation became a member of the

Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church

2005
Sunday school wing renovated; Morrison Hall added

The original church bell bears the scar of the

lightning strike.  The heat from the strike

caused the iron to melt.