Historic churches take center stage in Lamar
Bill Segars of the Darlington County Historical Society spoke at the Lamar Library about historic churches of South Carolina. Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
The Lamar Library welcomed local historian and author Bill Segars last week for a special presentation about historic churches of South Carolina’s Pee Dee region.
Segars told guests that he has been exploring this topic for about 13 years, and he has found about 800 churches of historical significance. He added that the quest to find, explore, and document these buildings has an element of urgency to it, because the old churches are particularly vulnerable to age, the elements, and even fires.
“We’re losing these old churches at a rate of about one every year,” said Segars.
He presented a slide show outlining the features of several notable churches, and focused on unique architectural and design elements that make them stand out.
Among the churches Segars discussed was the famed Trinity Episcopal of Society Hill. Located on Burns Street, this one-room church was built in 1833 when church members tired of making the trek across the Pee Dee River to Cheraw and raised $1,150 to construct their own church. Trinity was the first Episcopal church built in Darlington County, and is the oldest original church of any denomination still standing in the county.
With hand-hewn timbers, marked with letters and numbers to allow builders to place each beam exactly where it was supposed to go, the church was built to stand the test of time. Though the building has no electricity, the old Simmons pump organ still works, and it comes to life once a year – on the third Sunday in April at 4 p.m. – for a unique service that Segars describes as a “worshipful experience.”
Contrasting with the wood-framed informality of Trinity, the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church of Sumter (in the Mayesville community) is a red-bricked fortress in the Greek Revival style. With brick walls that are sixteen inches thick, this 1846 structure has stood practically unaltered since it was built. Segars detailed some of the unique features that have kept it standing – such as 45-foot long earthquake rods that span the width of the building, anchored through the outer walls with giant shields that act as massive washers and provide superior stability.
Segars said the church has only fourteen members now, and they meet the second and fourth Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. – except in August, when it’s far too hot inside the church to hold services.
Fair Hope Presbyterian Church in Lamar (on East Lynches River Road) was built in 1872 by the Commander family, and its original congregation was mainly their family members. The church was moved to its present location in 1911. Segars noted the oddity of the Fair Hope spire – a steeple built over the church’s porch with nothing underneath it – and the old building quirk of two entry doors, which offered separate entrances for male and female congregants.
If your church, club, or organization would like to learn more about historical churches of South Carolina, contact Bill Segars at billsegars@gmail.com or 843-307-4649. His book, Churches in South Carolina Burned During the American Revolution: A Pictorial Guide” by Jim Neal and Bill Segars, is available through Amazon.com and at local bookstores.