The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-01
Vol. XXXvII. No. IL.

Nhie' WHICH was tnen
prosperous little village with about
five or six houses and probably a
blacksmith, shop and a couple of
stores.
1t is recorded that the good breth-
rem of those days were exceedingly
suspicious of their pastors, notwith-
standing their ardent and jealous
work, and that at one time that Rich
ard Bradford, then unconverted, but
afterwards one of the pillars in the
Green Swamp Church" watched his
guest, the Rev. Hope Hill. to see il
he loved liquor. Other interesting
tales are told of suspicion being cast
upon the circuit riders at various
times. -
1t is shown that in 1923 the Rev.
James Jenkins began preaching in
Sumterville and the people came to
hear him gladly. At this time it is
probable that the Green Swamp
Church was abandoned and plans
were made for the erection of the
First Methodist Church in Sumter.
This building was erected on the lot
on West Liberty street which was af-
terwards bought by the Catholics for
the establishment Of Catholic Mis-
sion Chapel
Although the plans were begun In
1923, the record shows that It was
not until 1927 that the church build
ing was completed. probably due 10
the slnallness of the congregation at
that time. The trustees Of this new
church at the time building operations
were begun were Richard Bradford,
Hartwell Macon, James Parsons,
Wiley F. Hoffman, William Lewis
William l.. Brunson, Mason Reamea,
Henry Young, and Francis L. KEN
nedy. the descendants of many OF
whom are 81 I'll members OF the Meth
odist Church in Sumter The church
was dedicated in 1927 by the Rev.
Geo. w. Moore. the pastor in charge.
When this new church was establish
ed all of the members of the Green
Swamp congregation, who had not
done so before, moved their member-
4 ship to the new church. s
/ The first revival in sumtersiljo 4 of
which anything = known was he4 u (
1881 and was scanddeted@ @hy tie 49,
1 Wilbant n. w hAiiisAe ssxa ~
who were assisted by the pastor, the
Rev. H. A. c. Walker.
1t was found in 1914. thirteen
years after it was erected. that the
building was too small and two acres
Of land were obtained across the
street and frame building seating
four or five hundred with room for
two hundred more in the galleries.
was built. AS the old building had
never been ceiled or plastered and
was badly dilapidated it is probable
! that the members were exceedingly
glad to get into their new church
which was decided improvement on
the old, both in appearance, conven-
ience, seating capacity and comfort.
This building was dedicated i'm lS47
by the Rev. H. Spain, at time when
Revs. Samuel Townsend and ]. II.
Chandler were circuit riders on ;he
Sumterville circuit
1t was in 1851 that on petition of
the male members of the Methodist
Church, then called the Second
Methodist Church." represented by
Messrs. w. L. Brunson, j. Harvey
Dingle and w. Lewis, which was pre-
sented to the Methodist Conference at
Georgetown, that Sumter was made
station. From that time on the
Methodists wOrshipped in this church
until 1885, when ground was broken
for new church. Miss Eugenia Anna
Hoyt. now Mrs w. Arthur Thompson,
then had the honor of breaking earth
for the structure, she at that time
pelng an infant in her mothers arms.
1t was she, assisted by her son who
in the fall of 1911 broke earth for tho
new structure, which will be formal.
ly opened tomorrow.
While the services Sunday will be
the first religious services which will
be held in the new church, ii will nor
be the first time the church has been
used by. its members, for on two oc-
casions previously impressive cere.
monies have been performed within
its walls. On these occasions Mr..
Robert 7. Brown and Miss Mildred
Hall and. later, Mr.. Ben O. Cantey