Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church is in Columbia District, being organized in 1822 near the Keitt's Bridge on the Enoree River. It's a pleasant looking church surrounded by woodland. A small cemetery resides in it's back yard. A Brief History of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church contributed by Willie Morris Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, located in the Northeastern corner of Newberry County, South Carolina and about twelve miles from the city of Newberry has a long and rich history. In the last months of the American Revolution settlers from Virginia and other states came into the area where Mount Pleasant church now stands. Some of those pioneers had become acquainted with Methodist preachers and services in Virginia and Maryland, but, of course, when they reached the Broad River Valley and made their homes, there were no Methodist churches or circuit riders. Then in the last days of the Revolution, there came into this wild, new land a horseman who crossed Broad River just south of where Peak now stands and continued on to the area where the group of newly-settled Virginians lived. As if in answer to prayer, this man was a Methodist preacher, James Foster. Foster was a dedicated minister who had served several circuits in his native state of Virginia; after the death of his wife, however, the heart-broken man plunged into his work with such fervor that his health was finally ruined. Thus, forced to retire, James Foster moved down the old Colonial Path and into the area where Mount Pleasant is now located. Once again this man was at work doing what he loved, preaching and instructing people in the gospel. He served as a local preacher to the area until his health failed again, and he was forced to retire once more. Although James Foster did not found the Mount Pleasant Church, his efforts were certainly responsible for providing the climate that led to its creation. Mount Pleasant Church was actually founded in the year 1822. Before this date, however, the Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury found on the western side of Broad River a flourishing Methodist congregation worshiping in the “Parrot’s Log Church”. Perhaps this log church was the forerunner to Mount Pleasant since a family named Parrot was among the early members of Mount Pleasant. The church was organized in 1822, and soon the small congregation undertook to build a permanent house of worship. On August 23, 1823, William and Agnes Hutchinson deeded one and a half acres of land to the Methodist Society for its church building. The building was described as a small, unpretentious frame structure. Some of the names associated with the church in the beginning were Goodwin, Oxner, Lyles, Gilliam, and Hatton. A second building was erected during the 1860's. There is no accurate record of what happened to the first building, although one source does say that it was presumably destroyed by General Sherman during the Civil War. The new sanctuary was prettier and larger with a gallery for the slaves. It is reported that Micajah Suber left in his will a gift of $1,000 for the building of this church. Dr. Thomas Rutherford and The Rev. Dr. McCants were also liberal contributors to the building of the sanctuary and the support of the church. Prominent names among the members of Mount Pleasant Church late in the nineteenth century were the Graham, Epting, Adams, Cromer and Willingham. Tragedy struck Mount Pleasant again when in 1943 lightning hit the church building and burned it down. Efforts were begun, under the leadership of Mr. A. E. Reese, to raise funds for the building of a new church immediately. The present building was completed in 1949 and was dedicated in services led by Bishop Costen J. Harrell in June of 1950. The Rev. Quincy E. Gunter was the pastor at that time. Since that time, a wing has been added to provide further space for Church School classes. Since there was a scarcity of preachers, the traditions in Methodism was to have circuit riders who served several churches at the same time, and our church has shared in this aspect of Methodism. Mount Pleasant began as a part of the Newberry Circuit, but in 1890; it became a part of the Prosperity Circuit which also included New Hope, Zion and Prosperity. Around 1910 Mount Pleasant was moved to the Broad River Circuit, which also included New Hope, Chapin, Morris Chapel and later Capers Chapel. In 1917, the name of the Broad River Circuit was changed to the Pomaria Circuit, which was reduced in 1940 to a four-church circuit when Morris Chapel left the charge. Finally, in June of 1967, Mount Pleasant left the Pomaria Circuit and became a station church with Rev. Charles Rector as its minister. In July, 1967 the members had completed a beautiful parsonage beside the church for the pastor and his family. The local church at Mount Pleasant has reflected in its history the struggles that have taken place within Methodism itself. It began as a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in the years before the Civil War when slavery was such a fiery issue, there was a split within the denomination. Mount Pleasant then became a church within the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. When the major Methodist branches were united in 1939, the church became a church within The Methodist Church. Finally, in 1968, when The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren joined together, Mount Pleasant became a church within the United Methodist Church. And so today under the leadership of the pastor, The Rev. George M. Riser, the 204 members of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church seek to fulfill the church’s mission as the body of Christ. It has been said that we are so indebted to the past that we are merely midgets who stand on the shoulders of giants. At Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, we recognize that we build upon the labors of those giants who have preceded us in the 150-year history of our church. We thank God for the dedication and service of such people and ask for His guidance in the years ahead. Record of Ministers And Important Events of Mount Pleasant Church 1822–founding of the church 1860–second church building constructed 1884–M. Brown, G. R. Whitaker, ministers for the Newberry Circuit (which included Zion, New Chapel, Trinity, New Hope, Ebenezer, Lebanon, Prosperity, and Mt. Pleasant.) 1890–Mt. Pleasant was a part of the Prosperity Circuit (along with new Hope, Zion, and Prosperity). J. B. Traywick was the pastor. 1892–There were 14 Methodist churches in Newberry County, divided into four charges with four parsonages: (1) in the town of Newberry, (2) at Ebenezer, (3) at Kinards, (4) at Prosperity, where the preacher of the Prosperity Circuit, to which Mt. Pleasant belonged lived. 1983–D. D. Dantzler, minister 1894–1895–D. Tiller, minister 1896–1898–E. G. Price, minister 1899–1900–W. H. Arail, minister 1901–W. B. Wharton, minister 1902–1903–G. R. Shaffer, minister. (On December 3-9, 1902 Annual Conference was held at Central Methodist Church, Newberry.) 1904–1905–J. K. McCain, minister 1906–1909–H. W. Whitaker, minister 1910–1913–S. C. Morris, minister. (New Hope and Mt. Pleasant went to the Broad River Circuit.). On April 15, 1914, D. W. Kinard, R. P. Cromer, J. P. Adams, and F. A. Graham, trustees for New Hope and the Broad River Circuit and G. A. Cromer and M. J. Smith, trustees for Mt. Pleasant, jointly and severally accepted $500 as payment in full for their part out of the Prosperity Circuit parsonage. On September 18, 1914, Mrs. Eva J. Shealy of Pomaria sold to the trustees of New Hope, Mt. Pleasant and Morris Chapel Methodist Episcopal churches, South of the S.C. Conference, Broad River Circuit, Cokesbury District, a lot of land in Pomaria containing one-half acre for parsonage property for $1200. Dec. 1913 to Dec. 1915–D. Pettus Boyd, minister. In 1914 the S. C. Conference was divided into the Upper S. C. and S. C. Conferences. Mt. Pleasant was a part of the Upper South Carolina Annual Conference. Dec. 1915 to Dec., 1917–W. A. Duckworth, minister. Capers Chapel was put on the Broad River Circuit with Mt. Pleasant, Morris Chapel, Chapin and New Hope. 1917–At the Greenville conference the Broad River Circuit was changed to the Pomaria Circuit, which included Mt. Pleasant. Dec. 1917 to Dec. 1918–J. E. Strickland, minister. In November, 1918, Capers Chapel and Chapin churches were moved to the Irmo Circuit. Dec. 1918–1920–J. M. Mason, minister Nov., 1920 to Nov., 1921–D. C. Gregory supply pastor. In November, 1921 Capers Chapel and Chapin moved back to the Pomaria Circuit. Nov., 1921 to Nov., 1922–H. H. Merritt, supply pastor. Nov., 1922 to Nov., 1923–R. L. Doggett, minister. Nov., 1923 to Nov., 1926–J. H. Montgomery, minister Nov., 1926 to Nov., 1929–C. R. Anderson, supply pastor. (The pastor’s salary for the circuit was $1,250; Mt. Pleasant paid $325 of this amount.) At the 1929 Conference the Pomaria Circuit was changed from the Cokesbury District to the Greenwood District. 1929–1930–A. O. Sutton served part of the year but was dismissed due to conduct. George Duffie completed the year. Nov. 1930 to Nov., 1933–T. D. George, minister, Nov., 1933 to Nov., 1934–J. F. Ford, minister Nov. 1934 to Nov. 1937–C. N. Potts, minister. At the 1935 Conference the Pomaria Charge was placed in the Columbia District. Nov., 1937–1938–W. F. Johnson, minister. Nov., 1938 to June 1940–A. E. Smith, minister. During this period the formation of The Methodist Church occurred, and Morris Chapel affiliated with the Southern Methodist denomination, leaving Chapin, Capers Chapel, New Hope, and Mt. Pleasant on the Pomaria Circuit. 1941–Nov., 1950–Q. E. Gunter, minister, served ten years as pastor. (The pastor’s salary in 1949-50 was $1,900; Mt. Pleasant paid $675 of this amount.) Nov., 1950 to Oct., 1953–A. E. Becknell, minister Nov., 1953–1956–T. E. Derrick, minister Sept., 1956 to Aug., 1957–Weston Stevens, minister. Sept., 1957 to June, 1960–Thomas Poston, minister. July, 1960 to June, 1966–John P. Giffith, minister. June29, 1966 to June, 1967–Charles Rector, minister of the Pomaria Circuit. June 1967–Mt. Pleasant became a station church. Rev. Rector was appointed to Mt. Pleasant; he preached his first sermon here on June 25, 1967. He remained at Mt. Pleasant until early in 1968, when he moved to Florence. Early 1968–Robert Asmus supplied Mt. Pleasant. June 1968 to June 1972–George M. Riser, Minister June 1972 to June 1973–Thornton B. Smith, Minister June1973 to June 1978–E. Devon Ruth, Minister June 1978 to June 1980–Wally Dixon, Minster June 1980 to June 1982–William Evans, Minister June 1982 to June 1984–Jack Hancock, Minister June 1984 to June 1989–Paul Rogers, Minister June 1989 to June 1991–Kermit Shrawder, Minister June 1991 to June 1997–W. Webb Belangia, V, Minister June 1997 to September 1998–Melford Wilson, III, Minister September 1998 to June 1005–James Williams, Minister June 2005 to June 2007–Deborah Taylor, Minister June 2007–to Present–Marian Dyer, Minister