BETHEL METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY (N) (1876), Oconee County, SC A.K.A. Westminster, SC Version 2.3, 17-Sep-2006, C012.TXT, C012 **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Jun-2002 G.P.S. MAPPING . : Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in Jun-2002 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Dwayne Gordon in Aug-2006 IMAGES ......... : Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in Jun-2002 TRANSCRIPTION .. : Dwayne Gordon in Aug-2006 1512 Doctor John, Westminster, SC 29693, 864-647-2230 Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in Jun-2002 Ann Rogers in circa 1980's CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ Find intersection of Highways 76 & 123 in Westminster. Drive 0.1 miles west on Highway 123. Turn right and drive 0.6 miles SW on Lucky Road. Turn left and drive 0.5 miles S on Dr Johns Road. Bear left and drive 0.4 miles S on SR 37-20 (Dr Johns Road). Turn right and drive 3.3 miles S on SR 37-161 (Chauga Road). Turn right and drive 0.1 miles S on SR 37-20 (Dr Johns Road). Cemetery is in back of the old unpainted wooden building. Latitude N34 34.645 x Longitude W83 06.883 CHURCH/CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ Methodism History: * 1736: Church of England sent missionaries John & Charles Wesley to start the Methodist movement in the US. * 1766: Methodism begins in the United States * 1785: The Methodist Episcopal Church is established * 1800: The (UBC) Church of the United Brethren in Christ is established * 1803: The Evangelical Association is established * 1806: The Independent Methodist Church is established * 1816: The (AME) African Methodist Episcopal Church (Negro) is established (Denomination still exist in 2006) * 1821: The (AME-Zion) African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (Negro) is established (Denomination still exist in 2006) * 1830: The Methodist Protestant Church is established * 1842: The John Wesley Chapel Methodist Church is established (Denomination still exist in 2006) * 1844: The (MES) Methodist Episcopal-South Church is established (1845?) * 1860: The Free Methodist Church of North America is established * 1870: The (CME) Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America (Negro) is formed from uniting the African Methodist Episcopal & African Methodist Episcopal Zion churches (Denomination still exist in 2006) * 1939: The Methodist Church is formed from uniting the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant & The Methodist Episcopal-South churches * 1946: The (EUB) Evangelical United Brethren Church is formed from uniting the Evangelical Association & United Brethren churches * 1949: The Church of the United Brethren in Christ & The Evangelical Association churches unite * 1954: The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in America (Negro) new name of The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church * 1968: The (UMC) United Methodist Church is formed from uniting the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Evangelical Association & Methodist churches (Evangelical Association no longer exist) o----------o This history was compiled by Dwayne Gordon, at the request of former Pastor of New Harmony United Methodist Church, Rev. Willie Lawson, and under the direction of current Minister Rev. Pattie E. Way and the New Harmony United Methodist Church Trustees, of Seneca SC in collaboration with the Westminster Area Historic Preservation Society and the Oconee Heritage Center. The Source of this information was oral history gathered from Mrs. Drucilla Gordon Carter. Bethel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1876 and built by former slaves E.S. Ferguson, A.B. Gordon, and J.S. Wiley, the first Trustees of the Church. The church was the first built by former slaves in the Westminster area, and possibly the first in the County. It is the oldest existing Negro church structure in the County. The church was erected on a tract of land that was sold and released to the founders by Mr. Seaborn Hughes, and his father, Mr. Squire Hughes, in good faith. This great and wonderful church consisted of the families of the trustees, who were former slaves and descendants of former slaves. Many of the church's families migrated here from Georgia and from other areas in the Carolinas. Because black churches were scarce in that era, the church was a magnet for black families looking for a place to settle. Some walked to church from as far away as Madison Community, not far from the Georgia border. Oral record from sisters Mrs. Cecil Ivelyn Gordon Dooley, mother of Dwayne Gordon, and Thelma Grant, indicate that church services were only held once a month, on the first Sunday of the month. Later, when John Wesley M.E. Church was built in the town of Westminster, services would be held there on the fourth Sunday. Trinity M.E. Church in Walhalla was built some time later. Prior to cessation of Sunday services in 1949 or 1950 at the church, a tradition of an annual Harris Family Reunion on the Church grounds was started by Mae Sam Harris. This reunion included members from the Ferguson, Gordon, Harris, Miles and Wiley families. The Harris Reunion was moved in the mid- eighties from Bethel to the newer John Wesley Church in downtown Westminster. In 1996, the last reunion was held. In the spring of 2006, Roger Thrift, an adjoining property owner, approached Thelma C. Grant and asked her about the ownership of the Church property. Mrs. Grant told him it was owned by New Harmony United Methodist Church, a local Negro in Seneca. Mr. Thrift went to the Oconee County Courthouse and was unable to find any deed record of the Church. Mrs. Grant suggested that Mr. Thrift contact the former New Harmony Minister Rev. Willie Lawson, who indicated that he was in possession of the deed to the property. Rev. Lawson took the deed to the Courthouse, and the Register of Deeds office was able to find the record of the property. Mr. Thrift offered to have the property surveyed at his own expense, and as of August, 2006, the new survey has been completed. The updated deed is now in possession of the New Harmony United Methodist Church Trustees. During the course of this research it was discovered that the original deed of the property passed through several hands including: A.B. Gordon, Thomas P. Gordon, Tommy Lee Gordon Sr. and Drucilla Gordon Carter. Thomas P. Gordon was an early large Negro landowner and farmer in the County. o----------o Memo To: Rev. Pattie E. Way, Pastor, New Harmony United Methodist Church From: Janet E. Danforth, Robert L. Moir Westminster Area Historic Preservation Society (WAHPS) CC: Dwayne Gordon, Nick Gambrell, Paul Kankula Date: August 12, 2006 Subject: Activities to Date RE Bethel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church Dwayne Gordon came to the regular July meeting of WAHPS representing the Pastor and Trustees of New Harmony United Methodist Church, owners of the Bethel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. Dwayne requested assistance in determining what to do to protect and preserve the Bethel Church, the earliest African American church in the area, built by freed slaves in 1876. The Society found this request exceedingly interesting, given that the Bethel Church is one of the oldest remaining structures in the Westminster area, with important historic and educational value to the community. Nick Gambrell, Curator of the Oconee Heritage Center in Walhalla, and Chairman of WAHPS, suggested that the Society stood ready to be of assistance the New Harmony Trustees in a number of ways: 1. Preparing the documentation for getting the Bethel Church listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places (This designation increases the chance for securing grants for restoration.) 2. Assist in the solicitation of grants to stabilize and protect the structure prior to restoration. 3. Assist in the solicitation of grants to restore the structure. 4. Serve as the non-profit entity through which such grants could be administered, if necessary. NOTE: Our first concern is to make sure that nothing is done which could inadvertently put the historic structure in danger (fire or vandalism). As a result, our recommendation is that anything that is done with regard to restoring the Bethel Church is done without publicity. We checked the feasibility of approaching restoration of this Church in this manner with Brad Sauls, Federal Grants Coordinator for the SC Department of Archives and History. He agreed. Sauls is the first reviewer of submissions for National Historic Register eligibility. We informed Mr. Sauls of the existence of the Bethel Church, and he was excited about the possibility that the Church might be submitted for National Historic Register consideration. Once we had this assurance that the Trustees could proceed with some expectation of success, WAHPS members Janet Danforth and Robert Moir worked with Dwayne Gordon to prepare the preliminary information package to evaluate National Historic Register eligibility. Getting the Church listed on the National Historic Register is the first step in securing grants for restoration. Paul Kankula, Oconee County GenWeb Administrator, gave his permission to use Bethel Church photographs and cemetery listings from GenWeb as part of the preliminary information package. Many people are confused about the impact of being listed on the National Historic Register. If fact, having a property listed puts no limitations on the property owners. In fact, National Historic Register properties have even been torn down by their owners. The positive impact of listing increases the chance of receiving funding, and increases the odds that the property will be respected by the community for its historic value and implications. By: Janet Danforth at JanetDanforth@facilitator4hire in Aug-2006 TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife o----------o Tombstone Inscription Recording By: Gary Flynn (Jun-2002) and Dwayne Gordon (Aug-2006) ALLEN, M.C., b. 1919, d. 1939 DUPREE, Henry T., d. 1977?, buried beside josephine dupree DUPREE, Josephine, b. 1892, d. 1975, buried beside henry t. dupree DUPREE, Kathleen, b. 12-jun-1926, d. 27-may-1957, buried beside josephine dupree FERGUSON, E.S., b. 15-mar-1856, d. 13-apr-1934 FERGUSON, Sallie, b. 3-mar-1856 d. 26-feb-1926 GLENN, Roxie Harris, b. 20-june-1890, d. 21-june-1951, h. james e. glenn, GORDAN, John Henry, b. 1914, d. 1915 GORDON, A.B., b. 1865, d. 1930, double marker with liza gordon GORDON, Dwayne, b. 17-May-1954 GORDON, Liza, b. 1863, d. 1926, double marker with a.b. gordon GORDON, Rachel L., b. 25-Sep-1920, d. 14-Jan-2003, dwayne's aunt GORDON, Thomas P., b. 28-june-1889, d. 22-jan-1975, beside winnie williams gordon GORDON, Tommie L., b. 5-sept-1917, d. 30-apr-1984, p. thomas p. & winnie williams gordon, w. rena GORDON, Wilson Bill, b. 4-sep-1923, d. 17-july-1987, p. thomas p. & winnie williams gordon GORDON, Winnie Williams, b. 28-nov-1888, d. 19-mar-1955, beside thomas p. gordon HARRIS, Evaline, b. 13-sept-1833, d. 20-nov-1893 HARRIS, George W., b. 18-sept-1899, d. 3-may-1900 HARRIS, John, a. 62y HARRIS, Samuel, b. 28-oct-1822, d. 20-feb-1893, beside evaline harris HAWKINS, Sadie Ann Dupree, b. 1912, d. 11-dec-1988, p. sam & josephine dupree, h. walter hawkins sr HAWKINS, Walter, b. 1908 MOSS, Charlotte, b. 1842, d. 5-mar-1914, a. 72y MOSS, John, b. 9-oct-1815, d. 9-nov-1941 MOSS, Lula, b. 11-feb-1870, d. 26-dec-1951, beside john moss MOSS, Quince, b. 11-dec-1893, d. 1-may-1918, beside john moss ORSBORN, Lottie J., b. 29-mar-1866, d. 22-jan-1893, h. e.m. stone PERRY, Fannie Elzora, b. 1915, d. 2002, dwayne's aunt WILEY, James, b. june-1889, d. nov-1941 WILEY, Paul, b. 8-nov-1897, d. 26-feb-1952, military marker: sc pvt 339 service bn qmc wwI WILLIAMS, Lizzie, b. 1849, d. 30-june-1929, a. 80y, o----------o Tombstone Inscription Compiling By: Ann Rogers in circa 1980's Note: Because the term (Negro) appears after each name, this is an indication that this information was taken directly from a newspaper obituary notice and not an actual tombstone. GLENN, Roxie Harris (Negro), b. 20-june-1890, d. 21-june-1951, h. james e. glenn, GORDAN, John Henry (Negro), b. 1914, d. 1915 GORDON, A.B. (Negro), b. 1865, d. 1930, double marker with liza, GORDON, Liza (Negro), b. 1863, d. 1926, double marker with a.b. GORDON, Thomas P. (Negro), b. 28-june-1889, d. 22-jan-1975, beside winnie williams gordon, GORDON, Tommie L. (Negro), b. 5-sept-1917, d. 30-apr-1984, p. thomas p. & winnie williams gordon, w. rena b. fluker gordon GORDON, Wilson Bill (Negro), b. 1924, d. 17-july-1987, p. thomas p. & winnie williams gordon, GORDON, Winnie Williams (Negro), b. 28-nov-1888, d. 19-mar-1955, beside thomas p. gordon, HARRIS, Evaline (Negro), b. 13-sept-1833, d. 20-nov-1893 HARRIS, George W. (Negro), b. 18-sept-1899, d. 3-may-1900 HARRIS, Samuel (Negro), b. 28-ot-1822, d. 20-feb-1893, beside evaline harris HAWKINS, Sadie Ann Dupree (Negro), b. 1912, d. 11-dec-1988, p. sam & josephine dupree, h. walter hawkins sr. MOSS, harlotte (Negro), b. 1842, d. 5-mar-1914, a.72y MOSS, John (Negro), b. 9-oct-1815, d. 9-nov-1941 MOSS, Lula (Negro), b. 11-feb-1870, d. 26-de-1951, beside john, MOSS, Quine (Negro), b. 11-dec-1893, d. 1-may-1918, beside john moss ORSBORN, Lottie J., b. 29-mar-1866, d. 22-jan-1893, h. e.m. stone WILEY, James (Negro), b. june-1889, d. nov-1941 WILEY, Paul, (Negro) b. 8-nov-1897, d. 26-feb-1952, military marker: s pvt 339 servie bn qm wwI, WILLIAMS, Lizzie (Negro), b. 1849, d. 30-june-1929, a. 80y, o----------o