The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-09-24
A fine RECORD OF
ST. PHILLIPS CHURCH
HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION
SINCE ORGANIZATION.
List of Pastors and Names OF the
Various Church Councils Since
Organization.
(By Henry RichardSOn.)

SLlpPluS dl o.. iiihiPo S'-o'S'A
secord Sunday of this Month. 1t is u
pleasure for rle - woT ship at St.
Phillips at any time. ST. Philips is
part Of the ct. Panls parsonage, and
is served by the same pastor, Rev. Y.
Won A. Riser.
This church is located in good
farming section of the county and the
membership is almost entirely COM
posed of farmers Visitors always re-
ceive the most hearty welcome. Kind
words and glad oldtime hand-shaking
are always extended to the visitor by
these good people In meeting with
this congregation from time to time,
| have been very much impressed with
the rapid growth of this young congre-
cation. While am young myself, and
know nothing personally of the begin
ming of this congregation and only
know of it during the last few years,
but on account of my interest in the
work of the congregation l began to
make inquiry, and found one good old
gentleman in the congregation who had
one of the most compete records ever
saw of any church. l will endeaVor to
give few facts from this record
which l am sure will be of interest to
good many people.
The congregation known as St.
Phillips Evangelical Lutheran church
was organized in August, 1881. The
congregation at first worshipped in
Capt. Phillip Sligh's yard. About the
first of September, 1881, the building
of the church was begun. 1t IS To-
Gated on the Pomaria road, just seven
miles from NeWberry.
The church building was erected by
MIR. Romer Halfacre, who completed
the work with the exception of ceiling
the walls. The congregation then
numbered about 30 The first officers
were: Rev. H. S. Wingard, pastor;
Adam Kibler, W. G. Metts, G. L. Sease,
elders, and Melvin Dickert, Monroe M.
Dickelt and Melvin Wicker, deacons.
The first sermon was preached in
the building, then unfinished, Novem-
Der 6, 1881 Little by little the work
progressed, until November 5, 1882,
when the church was dedicated to
God by the pastor, assisted by Rev. j.
Steck, D. D., who preached the ded1-
cation sermon.
Rev. H. S. Wingard served the con-
gregation in connection with pastorate
No. 10, of the South Carolina synod,
until October I, 1888. Rev. S. T. Hall
man, then of Concord, n. c., was call
ed to take up the pastoral work, and
accepted. He preached his first ser
mon in this church on December 2,
1888 The sermon had for its subject
pastoral relation, and was based on 2
Thessalonians "a The audience paid
careful attention, and the earnest
prayer is that good was accomplished.
Rev Hallman continued his labors un-
til May II, 1888, at which time the
joint council of the pa:torate accepted
mis- resignation, in order that he might
respond to an earnest call from the
English Lutheran church of Augusta,
Georgia, and the executive committee
on missions of the South Carolina sy-
nod. During his ministry here, fifty
one members were enrolled at ST..
Phillips church, ninety-three in the
pastorate He held fourteen funerals
and baptised thirty-three infants. The
salary was raised from 500 to $120,
and the church improved by the addi-
ton of pulpit, robe room, chairs in
;hancel and pulpit, blinds to the win
lows, stove in the church, the house
dc
chase of an organ, and the coagrega-
lion was naturally encouraged and ad-
yanced in church work at the expira-
lion of Dr. Hallman's pastorate.
Prof. J. 3. Fox, Of Newberry col
lege, was then called to fl the unex-
9ired term of Dr. S. T. Hallman. He
assumed the pastoral work of St.
Phillips, June 3, 1888, but on account
of sickness he was unable to preach
and Mr.. H. F. Shealy, of the theology
cal seminary, filled his appointment.
The text of his first sermon was in
Numbers, thirty-second chapter, 4S-ol
verses. The audience was large and
the attention was good. Mr.. Shealey
continued his labors until October,
1888.
Rev. John H. Wyse, being regularly
called from Salem, y. c., assumed the
pastoral care of St. Phillips, February
,, 1890, and preached his first sermon
there the same day. The discourse was
based on Matthew, S:25. The audience
was large and the attention good. Mr..
Wyse continued his labors until No
vember 20, 1892, when his resignation
was accepted.
The council then met the first Sun
day in December, 1892, and called Rev.
]. A. Sligh to serve the church, in 1893,
as supply and the Rev. Mr.. Slign
assumed the pastoral work on same
day. His congregation was large, and
he received good attention.
Rev. J. a. Sigh, and his son, Rev.
W. K Sigh, continued their labors
in this church until October 9, 1893.
TITO church council again met in
10 caU~ch On Eove9hec %. 1898. a*d
:,a~:;roue!.y c.!,.ad~i i,ev. }. ,. SoWias.