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Newberry County Lutheran Churches taken from The Annals of Newberry, Part Two by John A. Chapman I have elsewhere stated that the Lutheran church has a larger number of communicants in the county than any other church or denomination. They were the first settlers, came in greater numbers and, all being members of the different branches of the great Teutonic family, naturally flocked together. From Bernheim's "History of the German Settlements and the Lutheran Church in the Carolinas," and other sources I glean the following facts as to the Church in Newberry County: The Newberry County Germans were mostly all descendants from the original German settlers in Saxe-Gotha Township, with an occasional addition from the German settlements of North Carolina and Virginia. It received its Teutonic element previous to the year 1740, and the descendants of those settlers are still there and the Lutheran Church is firmly established amongst them. The Swiss element largely predominated over the other German nationalities, though there were Germans from the Palatinate, Austria, Wurtemburg and Holland. On the 29th of February in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight was incorporated the "German Protestant Church of Bethany on Green Creek," which is supposed to have been in Newberry county; but its location cannot now be fund, nor any trace of the church. Does the map of Newberry show a Green Creek anywhere? Or does anybody know a creek by that name now? There were other Lutheran Churches in Newberry in 1788, incorporated by the same Act, namely: "The German Lutheran Church of Bethlehem on Forest's (Fust's) Ford; the German Lutheran Church of St. Jacob's on Wateree Creek, and the German Lutheran Church of St. Martin's". St. Martin's was organized after the Revolutionary War: when the others were is not known, but the probability is that they had no pastor before that war. The first pastor they are known to have had was the Rev. Frederick Joseph Wallern, but the date of his arrival in Newberry is not now known. Rev. R. J. Miller, in his Missionary Report under date of November 19, 1811, speaks very highly of the Saluda congregations, as follows: "From Hollow Creek Church, called Salem, I preached through all the German congregations in the neighborhood until the 28th. It is a pleasure to labor her; the people love the Gospel of Jesus and his servants." Rev. Wallern labored as pastor in Newberry District; and a Rev. Mr. Winckhouse, who afterwards preached occasionally in the Saluda charge made vacant by the death of Rev. C. E. Bernhardt, was also a resident of the same district; but when he commenced and ended his labors in Newberry is not known to the writer. It is possible that some of these churches in the Saluda charge were in Lexington county. By means of the labors of Revs. Wallern and Winckhouse the Newberry churches were preserved from annihilation, although Rev. Wallern was a worldly-minded man and attended industriously to his planting and other worldly interests, as is still reported of him, and at which Rev. R. J. Miller hints, when he said in his Missionary Report: "I went to the Lutheran minister, Wallern; found him about his farming business; conversed that evening and the following day much with him on the state of the Church, of religion and on other subjects, and found him a man acquainted with the world. Sunday, the 8th, I preached in his church. He accompanied me also the following day to a funeral, where I addressed the people on the subject of death and preparation, he preached from Ps. 37:18. On the following day I preached to a small, but to all appearance serious, people, and there with finished my missionary tour for this year." At the meeting of Synod, on the 16th of October, 1814, at Organ church, Rowan count, North Carolina, among other congregations received in connection with Synod was one from Newberry District, South Carolina, of which Michael and Peter Rickard, Andrew Wecker and Martin Kinard were elders. This church is believed to have been St. Paul's. At that meeting of Synod in accordance with a written communication from Brother John Dreher, of south Carolina, and upon his desire, it was "Resolved, that negro slaves be instructed in our holy religion, and be received into our Church as members; and that congregations should make proper arrangements in their house of worship to give the slaves also the opportunity to hear the Gospel. It was also Resolved, that all our ministers unite themselves to labor against the pernicious influence and consequences of dancing and seek to prevent it in every possible way." St. Paul's Church in Newberry District was dedicated on the third Sunday in June, 1830, by Rev. Mesrs. Rauch and Schwartz. But a church had been in existence here for eighty years, or more. It was a new church building dedicated in 1830. A revived state of religion had been visible for some time past, and soon after the dedication of the church thirty-seven persons were added at one time by confirmation. Rev. William Berly, a graduate of the Theological Seminary at Lexington, was licensed to preach in 1836; labored for a time in Newberry District; was for several years Principal of the Female Academy at Newberry, and was elected the Second Professor of the Theological seminary at Lexington, where upon he removed to that place. After the removal of the Seminary to Newberry he established a Femal Academy near Lexington, of which he was Principal until a short time before his death. He died April 18th, 1873, at his home in Lexington Village. Rev. Herman Aull, with others, was licensed by synod in 1831, before the Theological Seminary went into full operation. He lived, labored and died in Newberry District. A grandson of his, E. H. Aull, Esq., is (1892) editor of the Newberry Herald and News. Many other worthy descendants of his are also living in the county. Rev. Elijah Elmore was licensed to preach November 24th, 1848. He labored in Georgia until his death. He was a grandson of Rev. Giles Chapman, mentioned in Judge O'Neall's Annals, and was born abut three and half miles south of the town of Newberry, at the place now (1892) owned and occupied during the Seminole War for three months. He has one son, Rev. J. S. Elmore, who is also a Lutheran preacher now living and laboring in Georgia. Mount Zion Church having been organized under the pastoral care of Rev. J. Moser, their church edifice was dedicated on the fifth Sunday in August, 1840. Bethlehem Church, incorporated in 1788, was dedicated in 1816 by Revs. G. Dreher and Miller, and has been served by Rev.s Rauch, Schwartz., Hope, Berly, G. Haltiwanter, Jr., J. B. Anthony and T. S. Boinest-by the latter for many years. The remains of Boinest and Schwartz lie buried in the graveyard of this church. Since Mr. Boinest's death the church has been served by Rev. G. W. Holland, Rev. S. S. Rahn, Rev. S. T. Hallman and at present by Rev. J. H. Wyse. The congregation at Luther Chapel, Newberry, was organized in 1853 by Rev. T. S. Boinest, and through his labors money was raised and a house of worship was built in 1854 and dedicated in December of the same year. Mr. Boinest was the first pastor. After his resignation, which he was compelled to make, having so many churches under his care, Rev. William Berly became the pastor and served two years, 1856-58. Revs. Theophilus Stork, D. D., and J. A. Brown, D. D., were joint pastors in 1858-60. Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D. D., took charge as pastor in 1861 and served in connection with the Presidency of Newberry college until 1868 when he removed with the college to Walhalla. Rev. Jacob Hawkins, D. D., supplied the congregation with preaching in 1869. The church was struck by lightning in 1869, demolished the tall steeple. Rev. H. S. Wingard was pastor in 1870-71,. A call was then given to the Rev. H. W. Kuhns, D. D., of Omaha. He took charge in 1872 and served nearly seven years. Since his resignation in 1878 the church has had as pastors Rev. S. P. Hughes, Rev. J. Steck, D. D., Rev. A. B. McMackin, and Rev. W. C. Schaeffer. Mount Pilgrim and Mount Tabor, in Pastorate No. 11, were built in the year 1880; and Ridge Road, in the same pastorate, was built in 1888. St. Luke's was organized in 1828 or 1829, by Rev. Schwartz, then on a missionary tour. In 1830 or 1831, the first church building was erected, with Mr. Schwartz as pastor. Mr. Schwartz did not live long. He was succeeded by Mr. Berly, who was pastor for many years. Then followed Rev. J. Moser. About 1845 the old hose was taken down and a new one, which still stands, was built in its place; served by Rev. J. C. Hope for a short time; then by Rev. T. S. Boinest for nearly eighteen years, assisted by Rev. Smith deal occasionally; then by Revs. Jacob Hawkins, D. D., H. S. Wingard, J. D. Bowles and M. J. Epting. Colony was organized in 1845; house built in 1846; dedicated by Revs. Hope and Berly. First pastor was Mr. Berly, since served by Margart, Bailey, Sligh, Jacob Hawkins, H. S. Wingard, J. D. Bowles and G. W. Holland. Colony was rebuilt in 1884. Newville at Prosperity was organized in 1859, and church built same year and dedicated by Rev. Berly. Rev. Smithdeal first served them. Revs. J. P. Smeltzer, W. Eichelberger and J. A. Sligh officiated occasionally, (Rev. J. A. Sligh was regular pastor for two years,) also H. S. Wingard while a student in the seminary. Jacob Hawkins was pastor in 1871 for one year. He removed to Virginia and Rev. H. S. Wingard was invited and took charge. In 1874 this church was separated from pastorate No. 12 and made a separate and distinct charge with H. S. Wingard as pastor. Mr. Wingard was pastor in 1875, but has since removed to Georgia and is now, 1892, in the old Salzburger colony of Ebenezer near Savannah. Newville was built as Grace Church in 1878. It has since been served by Rev.s J. E. Bushnell, C. A. Marks and T. O. Keister. Beth Eden congregation was organized in 1843. House of worship was built the same year and dedicated by the Revs. Brown, Hope and Aull. Membership at first not more than 20; now over 100. The first pastor was Rev. Brown. The church has been served since by Revs. Berly, Bolles, Fink, Anthony, Sheppard, Hungerpeler, Moser, Hawkins, Schreckhise, Shirey, Bedenbaugh. Now, 1892, supplied by Prof. W. K. Sligh. St. Matthew's, near Ashford's Ferry on Broad Rier, was organized in 1827 or 1829 by Rev. . D. Sheck, while on a missionary tour, and he became the first pastor. He has been succeeded by Revs. Moser, Hope, Sheppard, Berly, Anthony, Boinest, Hugerpeler, Hawkins, Bedenbaugh., Shirey, Julian, Wyse. Membership was very small at first, but has increased to 90-100. Abut nine miles distant once stood Zion's Church, which was burnt down and never rebuilt. Most of the members united with St. Matthew's. St. Matthew's was destroyed by the tornado of 1884 and rebuilt and rededicated in 1885. Liberty Hill was erected in 1840, and dedicated in 1841 by Revs. Hope, P. A. Strobel and Aull. The membership is small. The church has been supplied by Revs. Moser, Hope, Aull, Brown, D. J. Dreher, Anthony, Hungerpeler, Hawkins, Bailey, Schreckhise, J. D. Shirey. In 1868 a new building was erected and dedicated. In 1890 this church was removed to Jalapa and rebuilt. It was dedicated the same year by Rev. W. C. Schaeffer, pastor of Luther Chapel, Newberry. St. Phillip's was built and dedicated in 1887 or 1888 through the efforts of Rev. H. S. Wingard, who was its first pastor. It has since been served by Revs. Hallman and Wyse. The history of St. Paul's, the old Mother Church, evidently the oldest Lutheran congregation in the county, has not been well preserved. The name does not appear among the Lutheran Churches of the State incorporated by an Act of the Legislature in 1778. But from the fact that Rev. Frederick Joseph Wallern was fro many years pastor of this congregation and became a member of the Corpus Evangelicum in January 1789, while he was a pastor in Newberry County, and from the testimony of some of the oldest persons residing in the community, it is evident that this old congregation had an existence prior to 1787. The building now used for worship by this congregation was built and dedicated in 1830, the services on the occasion being conducted by Revs. Moser, Rauch and Schwartz. The congregation previous to this had two church buildings, the first one was a log house which stood about 150 yards from the present building. How long Pastor Wallern served the congregation is not known, but he owned a plantation upon which he lived which is abut one and a half miles from the church, and within a few hundred yards of his then residence, where his remains now rest, a marble slab standing at the head of his grave. He died in 1816. Since his death the congregation has been served by the following pastors: Revs. Metts, Herscher, Rauch, Anthony, Berly, Stingley, Margart, Blackwelder and Sligh. The latter is now the pastor (1892). As early as 1845, when colony congregation was organized, the old congregation of St. Paul's began her work of colonization, giving off to this organization. St. Luke's also contributed in membership in building up this little colony. Mt. Tabor, near Little Mountain, now numbering abut 150 members, is also a colony from St. Pauls. The new congregation (Mt. Tabor) was organized and the church built through the efforts of its present pastor, Rev. J. A. Sligh. Mt. Pilgrim, near by, brought into existence by the labors of Rev. J. D. Bowles, received at its organization a number of members from St. Paul's. Both of these churches were dedicated in 1880. The organization of Bachman Chapel was effected through the efforts of Rev. J. A. Sligh, the membership coming from St. Paul's and Colony, principally from St. Paul's Mt. Olivet was dedicated in 1891, and was built through the efforts of Revs. Marks, Epting, Bowers and Sligh. Mt. Tabor and St. Paul's , the daughter and mother, constitute a pastorate. Mt. Pilgrim's first pastor was the Rev. J. D. Bowles, and has since his removal, been served by Revs. Bethel, Marks, Epting and Julian. Bachman Chapel was cared for by Revs. Sligh and J. D. Shealy and Prof. W. K. Sligh until arrangements could be made to secure a regular pastor. Mt. Pilgrim, Bachman Chapel, Mt. Olivet, and Macedonia in Lexington County constitute a pastorate. Not withstanding there has been a heavy drain made on St. Paul's congregation in giving off her membership to other organizations, she is still strong and healthy and now numbers abut 250 members. From this old congregation the following persons have entered the Lutheran ministry: Revs. Herman Aull (deceased), Wm. Berly (deceased), G. A. Hough, J. E. Berly (deceased), S. T. Riser(deceased), M. J. Epting and H. P. counts. Rev. M. M. Kinard was also brought up in this church, but had moved his membership to Grace church, Prosperity, before entering the ministry. Prof. W. K. Sligh and Rovert E. Livingston, both of whom it is expected will in a short time be ordained and set apart to the work of the ministry, were brought up in this church, the former however, of whom is now a member of Mt. Tabor Church. It might be added here to the credit of this church that from her many students have entered Newberry College, among whom are some of her best educated and most useful graduates. Of Rev. J. A. Sligh I must add that he has been pastor of the same congregation, St. Paul's, - it is his first charge, - for twenty-seven years. That he also has been a member of the Legislature, of which body, he was a working and a useful member, taking an active part in all the business. He is now an energetic, useful public man, of sterling integrity and loved by his people. |