Built in 1885 in the Morgana Community near Clarks Hill, South Carolina, the Dothan Methodist Church was active until the 1930s. For a fuller history, you can read more at the South Carolina Picture Project.
There is a small adjacent cemetery that resembles most rural Southern cemeteries. There is one headstone that stood out. It was the grave of Marjorie “Jerry” Scott, a woman who served as an ensign during World War II. She served as a codebreaker. You can read more about her in her obituary. It is estimated of the 10,000 women who served in the war, almost half helped decipher codes on behalf of the United States.
I don’t remember how I found out about this church, but it’s been on my list for a while to photograph. I finally got the chance to do so this past weekend.
Located in Cherokee County, South Carolina, the Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church is right at the crossroads of Wilkinsville, a town of approximately 700 people. Wilkinsville is southeast of Gaffney. For those unfamiliar with Gaffney, it’s the town with the big peach butt in the sky off of I-85.
Often when I am researching the history of a place that isn’t well known, I am uncovering a lot of details through news articles and, for churches and cemeteries, obituaries. I must commend the research of Tom Taylor at Random Connections. He did a remarkable deep dive into the history of the Wesley ME Church. If you want in-depth research, please head to his site.
In a nutshell, the congregation was formed in 1915. The stone structure was built in the 1940s after a storm damaged the previous building. While the cemetery is still active and well-maintained, the church closed by 1970.
Wesley Chapel Methodist Church Wilkinsville SC Nov 15, 1943 Willie Edward Corry, School Teacher Architect And Builder Directors Levi Garrett, A. C. Corry, James Love, G. Dewey Harris Workers Jossie Love, Ressie Rodgers, Addie Corry Strossie Mae Harris Treasure John Davis, Beatrice Jefferies Secteary Vestor Harris, Ninnie Hambright Geo W. Davis, Emily Davis
Image from the September 1, 1971 photo spread on Wilkinsville in The Gaffney Ledger
Originally the home of Wesleyan Methodist Church, the now vacant church served as the spiritual home for the True Faith COGIC church and the Higher Ground Ministries.
The Sasser United Methodist Church is a Gothic Revival church completed in 1897. It is now closed. It is a nearly identical twin to the Baptist church in town.
Bethel United Methodist Church was founded early in the 1800s. The first church was located roughly a mile away. In 1849, the church relocated to the current plot of land on Scull Shoals Road and built a church. The current structure was built in 1916 for $7,000.
The church is still active, but it is no longer part of the Methodist Church. It is now an independent church known as Bethel Church.
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
