Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-04-28
EARLY PRESBYIERIAN|SM.
Historical Sketch Of Retreat Presby,
terlan Church.


Tradition says that in tho year
| 1904 Rev. Andrew Brown, q Presby-
tcrian minister, did the first mission
airy work in this county and preached
iii log house near Mrs. Wards, on
the road leading from Westminster
to Oakway. The house was forcibly
taken possession of by one who was
banlshed from his home, and services
were held in private houses until one
John Oliver Green donated seven
acres of land for Presbyterian
church, Oh the site where the old
Westminster Baptist church now
stands. A house was built and was
supplied for some time by Mr.. Brown.
Mr.. - Russell and Mr.. William
Dickson, the father of Andrew, David
and Simpson Dickson, served as
elders and kept the organization alive.
John Werner, the forefather of the
Werner family, John Fcrgcrson and
Asa Smithson, the father of David
Smithson, were members.
In 1884 DR.. Howe, in his "IIistory
of Presbyterianism in South Caro-
lima" says: "The Westminster Pres
bytorlan church WAS organized by
the Rev. benjamin d. Dupree, with
twenty members. 1t was supplied
consecutively by him until 1889.
His wisdom and executive ability,
under Divine grace, were blessed
with an increase of membership to
forty-four. But, dissensions arising
within, and on account of its close
proximity to Richland church, its
name was dropped from the roll of
the South Carolina Presbytcry. In
1871 the majority Of its members
united, by common consent, with
lfichland church, which was also
organized by Mr.. Duprce and was
the mother church of Retreat
church."
On April 8th, 1851, the following
members, mostly from Richland
church, were organized into Retreat
church by the Rev. William Nc
Whortcr, to.wit: John Werner and
wife, Mrs. Rcbecca Werner; Simpson
Dickson and wife, Mrs. Sabret Dick
son; Mrs. Violet Smithson, Miss
Margaret Fullerton, Mrs. Sarah
Towers, Mrs. Kitrel Lee, Miss Louisa
Fullerton, Samuel J. Werner and
wife, Mrs. Malinda Werner; Joseph
Il. Shelor and wife, Mrs. Rebecca
Sh ')r; James Brownlee and wife,
Lemucl II. Werner, Miss Hepsy Ter
rell, Mrs. Mary Boldin and Mrs.
Emily G. S. Werner. Simpson Dick.
son was reelected an elder, and
Lcmucl III. Werner was also elected an
elder. Samuel j. Werner was elected g
deacon. The above named coneti-
tuted the organization Of the church.
The house in which wo now worship
was built in the summer of 1855.
Mcssrs. William and Thomas I}ibb
were the architects, and Elder
lIbcnczcr y. Werner vas chairman
of the building committee.
The original record book having
been lost, we have no authentic rec
ord until the fall of 1856, when the
Rev. William p. Grady, of the
Charleston Presbytcry, served the
church as supply until the fall of
1860. lie was followed by the Rev.
William McWhorter, who labored
zcal' usly until 1868, when Rev. j. O.
Lindsey, ID. d., of the Associate Re-
formed church, supplied the church
Tor one year. DR.. Mcneil Turner
laborcd with us for about one wear,
and was followed in turn by the Rev.
Ezekiel II. Hyde, who remained with
liz till tho fall of 1873. From that
time till the LIST of April, 1878, Rev.
William McWhortcr supplied the
church. Up to this time the records
are very meagre and silent on many
points of interest. On the first of
April, 1878, itcv. Hugh Strong, as-
sisted by Rev. John r. Riley, d. D.,
supplied the church and labored with
na until tho 20th of March. 1885,
when the former was summoned to
worship with his fathers.
During the summer of 1885, Mr..
William G. Mcdonald, student of
the Prcsbytcry Of Eastern Texas,
supplied the church. On tho 9th OF
September, 1885, q call was made
for the pastoral services Of Rev.
Robt. Mckenzie Fitzpatrick, of North
Alabama Prcsbytcry, which was
accepted. He was installed ae the
first pastor of the church on the 29th
of May, 1885. His pastoratc was