St. Michael Lutheran

Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Lexington County, South Carolina

St Michael Lutheran Church is a little west of Columbia, South Carolina in Lexington County. This 1921 building is the third and follows churches built in 1814 after the founding of the congregation and the “old blue church” from 1880. Although many of the German settlers of the area worshipped in their native language, this church was organized for those wanting to hold services in English. A more extensive history of St. Michael’s is on their website at this link.

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  Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Lexington County, South Carolina

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  Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Lexington County, South Carolina

Saluda Churches

Spann Methodist Church, Saluda County, South Carolina

Spann Methodist Church is a Greek Revival style building built in 1873 and located near Ward, South Carolina. The congregation formed in the early 19th century and added the adjacent cemetery in 1840 that now contains about 400 graves. The church is listed on the National Register and the application with more history is included below.

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In the nearby town of Ward is this Baptist church shown below, but I don’t know when it was built.

Ward Baptist Church, Saluda County, South Carolina

Johnston Churches

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Johnston, South Carolina

This wooden church above, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Johnston, South Carolina was built in 1906. It’s on the main road (Hwy 23) through this small town so I stopped for a quick photo. The town was created in the late 1860s thanks to a railroad expansion. Today’s population is a little above 2,000.

Bethel C.M.E. Church, Johnston, South Carolina

Built in 1878 as a Methodist Church, the building was later sold to Bethel CME (Christian Methodist Episcopal) and moved to its current location some time around 1920. It’s currently located in a residential area a few blocks from the main road through town. There are an estimated 3,000 CME churches still active in the U.S.

Storm Branch Baptist

Storm Branch Baptist Church, Aiken County, South Carolina

Storm Branch Baptist Church is in Aiken County, South Carolina, just over the river from Augusta, Georgia. It’s a two story frame church with brick veneer. The church was built circa 1925 and the oldest grave in front of the church is from 1914. Some additional history was available from the historical marker in front of the church-

This church had its origins at or near this site in 1772 as a plantation chapel, in what was Edgefield District until after the Civil War. Revs. Iverson L. Brookes, and John Trapp, prominent ministers in the Savannah River region preached here from the 1830s until the 1860s. Brookes died in 1865. Storm Branch Baptist Church became a wholly black church in August 1866 when Mrs. Sara Lamara, widow of planter Thomas G. Lamar deeded this land to trustee Aleck Davis. About the same time the first permanent sanctuary was built. Rev Robert L. Mabry, the longest-serving minister, preached here from 1898 to 1943.

Trenton Methodist

Trenton Methodist Church, Trenton, South Carolina

In addition to the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches in Trenton, South Carolina, there is a Methodist Church built in 1874 on nearby Wise Street.

Episcopal Church of Our Savior

Episcopal Church of our Savior, Trenton, South Carolina

A minute or so from the Presbyterian church in Trenton, South Carolina is Episcopal Church of Our Savior. It was built in 1882 and is a blend of architectural styles. The bell tower was also added at a later date. The c hurch was locked so I did my best to get an interior shot from a back window (below) before moving on.

Episcopal Church of our Savior, Trenton, South Carolina

Trenton Presbyterian

Trenton Presbyterian Church, Trenton, South Carolina

I stopped at three churches while passing through Trenton, South Carolina. Trenton Presbyterian Church was built some time around 1875, a few years after the town’s founding when a railroad was built through the area. Before a name change to Trenton in 1877, the community was known as Pine House which was based on a nearby stagecoach waystation.

Old Madison Church

Old Madison Church, Oconee County, South Carolina

Just west of Westminster, South Carolina is this white church off of Highway 123 known as Old Madison Church. I’m fairly sure it’s a Presbyterian church, but that’s about all I know at this point.

Bethel A.M.E.

Bethel A.M.E. Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Bethel A.M.E. is in the downtown area of Columbia, South Carolina. It’s a large Romanesque Revival brick building completed in 1921 for a congregation organized in 1866. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places (file attached) largely due to the design being from one of the first registered black architects in the U.S. It’s no longer used as a church, but plans for locating a museum or performing arts center inside have been in the works.

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Westminster Presbyterian

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Westminster, South Carolina

Built in 1884, this Presbyterian church is in Westminster, South Carolina, a small town not far from the Georgia border. Other than it being the oldest church in town, I haven’t found anything on its history.