Difference between revisions of "South Carolina history"

Latest revision as of 22:37, 30 August 2019

South Carolina

Florence Bible Chapel was begun in 1937 by John W. Bramhall. Initially on Gregg Avenue in Florence, it later moved to its current location at 1400 Second Loup Road. Leadership over the years has been shared by Bill Anderson, Henry Blackwell, John Wenteler, Fred Kosin, Ernie Gross, Robert Floyd, Allen Montrose, and George Kirk. In the late 1990s, the assembly had about 45 in attendance on a Sunday.

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Community Bible Fellowship in Florence began in 1973 as an off-shoot of Florence Bible Chapel. After their first meeting in the chapel of a funeral home, the small group of Christians met for a year in the community room of a local bank. During this time, they purchased a lot on the west side of Florence, and the chapel was ready by the end of 1974. Fred Kosin, E.J. Creel, George Crow, Phil Baugh, and J.L. Windom were those involved in the start-up. Leadership over the years has been shared by Fred and Roy Kosin, John Pritchett, Don Chambers, Sam Munnerlyn, David Strawn, and Robert Meyers. About 25 adults and youngsters are in the assembly, which has commended workers to the Lord’s service at home and abroad.

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Soon after Bethany Chapel in Augusta, GA was formed in 1940, the Warren Herseys, in fellowship there, moved to the capital city of Columbia, where with James T. Rawls they were able to establish an assembly. The Christians first Broke Bread in June 1944 in the home of E. Quattlebaum at 2502 Devine Street. Before then, some of these Christians were aware of some scriptural gathering principles, and had contacted John Bramhall of Florence and Virgil Hollingsworth, Jr. of Augusta, GA. When these two preachers came, the new assembly received the Word with a ready mind. A year later there were more than 40 in fellowship in the new Bethany Chapel in Columbia.

In 1946, Gene and Sue Hollingsworth were invited to move to Columbia from Augusta to help to build up Bethany Chapel, and this they did for three years. Bethany Chapel has moved through four locations, always keeping the same name.

The young assembly was greatly helped by soldiers stationed at nearby Fort Jackson. Bethany Chapel in Augusta sent one of their number to minister quite frequently and helped by arranging for speakers with engagements in Augusta to spare a few days extra in Columbia. John Bramhall continued in contact with the Bethany assembly in Columbia. The assembly has commended several to the work of the Lord.

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Believers Chapel in Columbia started in 1975, principally by Henry Blackwell, Shockley Few, and Dave Johnson from Bethany Chapel. Meeting first in the Carpenter’s Union Hall, the Christians moved to 3106 Broad River Road in 1978. This assembly has commended workers to the Lord’s service in Italy, Germany, and Turkey.

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In November 1941 a Sunday school and Gospel work was started in a Government building at Navy Yard, just north of Charleston, on the Atlantic coast. Walter Nelson assisted in the work in the beginning. The activities were soon moved to a tent on a vacant lot and the Navy Yard Assembly was established. Although there were only five or six in the newly formed assembly, the need of a suitable building was felt. The lot was purchased, and construction was commenced in November 1942. The Lord provided for the building of the chapel through the self-sacrificing of the few who were responsible for the work and through the gifts of individuals and assemblies, chiefly in Chicago.

In January 1943, J. D. Ibbotson came from Savannah and helped in completing the chapel as well as conducting regular meetings. R. E. Tewson, then in the army, was active in the work. The building was formally opened in April.

Sunday School attendance reached 335 at the peak of World War II. In 1946, the Sunday school attendance still averaged close to 200. The work was started as a wartime effort for the benefit of the Navy Yard and other workers. After the war, most of the families moved from the area, and the Navy Yard Assembly disbanded after a few years.

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Whipper Barony Bible Chapel in Charleston was a follow-up work from the Navy Yard Assembly. In 1974 the assembly relocated and became known as Jamison Road Bible Chapel.

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In the early 1980s, the Summerville Bible Fellowship, northwest of Charleston, branched off from Jamison Road Bible Chapel. For the first few years, the Christians met at Hickory Street in Summerville, then moved to the present location at 10428 Dorchester Road. This was originally a house but has been remodeled and an auditorium added.

The men primarily involved in getting the assembly started, and who remain active in the work are Walter Elliott Jr., Charles Ridgway, Walter Elliott III, Ted Fry, and David Drumheller. Approximately 50 people, including children, are in the meeting.

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The North Charleston Bible Chapel started in 1970 as a branch off from Wipper Barony Bible Chapel. It continued for about 15 years until it disbanded, its people joining with Summerville Bible Fellowship and Jamison Road Bible Chapel.

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Christians from Aiken and Granitevelle, SC and the adjoining areas just east of Augusta, GA were attending a Bible Class in Graniteville in the early 1950s, conducted by Gene Hollingsworth and later by Virgil Hollingsworth. From these beginnings, the Colleton Avenue Chapel in Aiken was started in the spring of 1957. The assembly was initiated by Newman Sanders, Henry Beck, Kenneth Flinchune, Henry Dascher, and LaVern Sanders. E.P. “Crow” Thomas labored from 1950 to the 1990s in the assembly. In the spring of 1970, the Christians moved to Kalmia Hill Chapel.

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Two assemblies in the Charleston area began in the 1940s primarily through the work of Julian Dennis. These are Grace Bible Chapel and Grace Tabernacle.

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Overbrook Gospel Chapel in Greenville was established in 1947 by Ernie and Virginia Gross. It met first at Parker High School. The growing assembly built a chapel at 26 Overbrook Road and moved into it in October 1949. Among those in leadership have been Ernie Gross, Edwin Shivers, William Hurlsong, Edward Goodwin, Dewitt Jones, and Alex Fields. The assembly has commended workers to Nigeria, Senegal, Zaire, Paraguay, Spain, and elsewhere.

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Bethany Bible Chapel in Conway on the eastern side of the state, began in 1960 on Oak Street, and moved in 1976 to its present address at 3304 Fourth Avenue. Hilmon and Mildred Horton, who lived in Durham and were saved under the ministry of Welcome Detwiler, were the initiators of the assembly. David Rickert, Larry Deeds, and Jeff Richert have served as elders, and are commended to full-time work in the assembly. Bethany Bible Chapel has grown, with many coming to Christ; about 200 attend the two Sunday morning services.

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Myrtle Beach Bible Chapel started in 1991 in the Alec Collette home in Conway, the result of efforts by Ken Gladden, H. Glendinning, and Alec Collette, who had been in assembly fellowship at Conway and elsewhere and are the current elders. In 1993, the Christians rented space in Myrtle Beach and met there for about three years. The assembly now owns its own building at 2903 Church Street. About 35 adults and youngsters are in Myrtle Beach Bible Chapel.

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Believer’s Bible Chapel in Longs, at the eastern edge of the state, hived off from Bethany Bible Chapel in Conway and was established in 1980. Its initial designation was Buck Creek Bible Chapel. The principals involved in the start-up were H.B. Horton, Paul Prince, and Larry Crabb. These and O.C. Tuck and Danny Martin have been in leadership over the years and do most of the preaching at the assembly. About 25 adults and children are in Believer’s Bible Chapel.

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The assembly at Beaufort, between Savannah and Charleston, was established in 1958. Beaufort Bible Chapel was built in 1959. Paul Beverly came to the work there when T. Michael Flowers found it necessary to concentrate his efforts in Savannah. Julius Dennis labored there for some years.

Sources

• Questionnaire Responses
• Letters of Interest, November 1945, p. 21; September 1946, p. 32; November 1949, p. 3; November 1956, p. 7; June 1959, p. 11; October 1976, p. 14; January 1985, p. 11