Prince George Church, Winyah, Part 2
Prince George Church, Winyah
Photo by Bill Segars
By Bill Segars
Guest Writer
Last week we learned about the original construction and the unfortunate burning of the Anglican Parish church of Prince George, Winyah in Georgetown during the Colonial South Carolina growth period. We’re now in the mid 1780’s, the American Revolution is over, British troops have returned to England and the 13 original colonies are learning how to handle their new freedom and govern themselves as The United States of America. British troops would return for a couple of years in June of 1812, but left without severe consequences for the newly formed country.
Many factors played into the growth of the Georgetown area, many of which exist today only in our history books. Agriculture played a significant part in this growth with the planting of rice, indigo and cotton and the large plantations that their income brought to the area. The water of the Black, Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers flowing into the Winyah Bay and on into the Atlantic Ocean spawned shipping trade to the area. Growth also came from factors that were not as attractive and glamorous as the plantation life style; thousands of slaves worked the agricultural fields and hundreds of pirates ruled the water with ships, cannons and sabers. But they all combined to make Georgetown and South Carolina what they are today.
Religion played a significant part in Georgetown’s growth. That same religious and economic growth also created growth and expansion of the church buildings. In the case of Prince George Winyah, work began as early as 1788 to restore the remaining brick walls. This is supported by a letter written by John Martin to his son-in-law in 1788 stating, “The town was almost all burnt by the British troops while here. There are about 150 houses rebuilt since. The Church they made a stable and then burnt it. They have since got a roof upon it, but not half-finished.” Money was available from the sales of goods and products, so congregations were very willing to return a portion of those sales to the church and restore or rebuild their houses of worship.
Having used the Prince George building for about 25 years prior to the fire, the congregation realized where changes and expansion would be beneficial during the reconstruction period. As a new roof structure was being installed in the late 1700’s, a gallery was added in the nave and a chancel was added to the east end of the nave. The building was repaired and ready for use by 1809. The bell tower on the west end of the nave was added in 1824. With the addition of the chancel on one end of the original 50’x80′ building and the bell tower on the other end, much of the original 1747 Curvilineal Jacobean roof style has been covered up, but it’s still there; you just need to look for it.
There is no written evidence concerning the construction of the current box pews. Logic dictates that if the interior was burned in 1781 and the burned roof was rebuilt in 1788, the box pews were constructed between 1788 and 1809. Regardless of exactly when these beautiful heart pine raised panel box pews were built, they are an excellent example of colonial period craftsmanship. A time when pride in and with the end product meant more to the craftsman than the quick production of that end product.
Prince George Church, Winyah
Photo by Bill Segars
The box pews, built in a “U shape” with a door, hold many little interesting secrets. One that I’ll mention is the connection of the box pew with the early building’s heating methods in the cold winter months. Families would sit in a designated pew as a family unit. The family would bring with them, from home, hot bricks in a metal bucket. That bucket(s) would be placed on the floor of their box pew for the purpose of keeping them warm. The family in the next box pew would do the same. With the many buckets of hot bricks and the members’ body heat in the building, the building was then heated. This process certainly encourages 100% attendance for Sunday service doesn’t it? Maybe we need to go back to bringing hot bricks to church on Sunday.
Prince George Church, Winyah
Photo by Bill Segars
After the 1824 bell tower addition, Prince George, Winyah had reached its current size and configuration. But over the next almost 200 years there has been plenty of maintenance and repair work done. This is a responsibility that the present and past congregations have assumed very willingly so we can enjoy this stunning building. One of the current leaders of that responsibility is a Darlington County native son. The Rev. E. Ragland Coxe (we know him as Rags) is the assistant rector of Prince George. Do yourself a favor and go by to spend some time with Rags and his “functional historical jewel”.
Missed Part 1? Read it here: Prince George Church, Winyah Part 1
Bill Segars has a strong love and appreciation for history, having grown up on a farm in Kelleytown on land that has been in the family since 1821. He uses his 41-year building career to combine with his love of history to develop a passion for historical restoration. Segars was able to find, photograph and research more than 800 religious edifices throughout the state.
Bill Segars’ book Churches in South Carolina Burned During the American Revolution: A Pictorial Guide is finished and printed. If you would like to purchase a copy or need a gift for that “hard to buy for friend”, the books are available at the Burry Bookstore 130 W. Carolina Ave. in Hartsville or Darlington County Historical Commission 204 Hewitt St. in Darlington. It can also be ordered from Amazon, by typing in the book title, for $25.