The most recent arrival was The Means of Grace : A History of the Robertville Baptist Church by Eric W. Plaag (Charley House Press, 2021). Some of you may have joined us for the Live Stream Author Book Talk on November 15, 2021 so you heard about the history of the Robertville Baptist Church - and some of the problems inherent in compiling a religious congregational history. The recording is now available on the Library's YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/q6G8OiYUIs0.
We have three histories of the Baptist Church of Beaufort: Lamp Unto the Lowcountry : The Baptist Church of Beaufort, 1804 - 2004, Beaufort, South Carolina by Annette Milliken Maddox (Baptist History and Heritage Society, 2004); Centennial Celebration of the Baptist Church of Beaufort : Built by Dr. Richard Fuller (Baptist Church of Beaufort, 1944); and Beaufort Baptist Church by James W. Busch that he presented before the Beaufort County Historical Society probably in 1954 or 1955 based on internal evidence.
Many questions arise during the research and writing processes: What documents are available? How much credence should you give to the lore surrounding the founding of a religious body? What part did the God or Higher Power(s) have in the creation of this body? How were differences of opinion regarding rules, doctrinal statements, congregational membership handled? How do you handle the not-so-good or unwise-in-hindsight issues that can arise? What tone should one take?
Other authors have struggled with the same issues when dealing with researching and writing congregational histories of local churches, temples and synagogues and came to their own conclusions. Generally speaking, religious organizational histories are often written or commissioned by the organization itself using members of the organization as primary researchers, compilers, or authors of the document, booklet or book. You will see this pattern exhibited in many of the titles listed below.
Some of the older churches in Beaufort District have been in existence long enough to be on their second, third or even fourth compiled and distributed church history.
As most of you know, the congregation of the Parish Church of St. Helena has been worshipping together since 1712. Amazing Grace : The Parish Church of St. Helena, Beaufort, South Carolina : Three Hundred Years of History, 1712 - 2012, edited by Barbara R. Payne and published by Lydia Inglett of Hilton Head Island (2012) was commissioned to celebrate the church's Tricentennial anniversary. But we also have The History of the Parish Church of St. Helena, Beaufort, South Carolina : Church of England, 1712-1789, Protestant Episcopal, 1789-1990 which was self-published by the History Committee (1990) and the History of St. Helena's Episcopal Church : Founded 1712 published in Charleston by the Walker, Evans & Cogswell Company at some point during the 1920s; and A Short Historical Sketch of the Parish from the First English Settlement of Carolina to the Present Time, 1712 - 1912 by the Rev. Percy D. Hay and self-published by the Church in honor of the congregations bicentennial celebration (1912).
We also have histories for the Prince William's Parish Church in Sheldon, an Anglican congregation that grew from the original St. Helena's Church: A Short History of the Parish Church of Prince William, Called Old Sheldon Church by Roy Flannagan and John Bull, self-published by the authors in 2011 and a Beaufort County Historical Society Paper #36 by John W. Hardy entitled and delivered as Prince William's Parish [on] : Oct. 17, 1961. There is a significant chapter about the Old Sheldon Church and the McPhersonville area churches in Prince William's Parish and Plantations by Francis Marion Hutson and John Reynard Todd (Richmond, VA: Garrett & Massie, 1935). A Brief Historical Sketch of McPhersonville and Her Two Churches is also by Francis Marion Hutson. It was published in Charleston in 1932, presumably by the author.
We have two compiled histories of First Presbyterian Church in Beaufort: Celebrating One Hundred Years : The History of First Presbyterian Church, Beaufort, South Carolina by Page Putnam Miller (Beaufort, SC: First Presbyterian Church, 2012) and The History of First Presbyterian Church, Beaufort, South Carolina : Organized May 19, 1912 by Joel Patrick (1987). Nita Grimsley Theus wrote Presbyterian Faith and Churches in Beaufort, South Carolina for the Record and presented it to the Beaufort Township Library in 1938 which we have cataloged as Beaufort County Historical Society Paper #42A.
Theus did a similar paper about the Catholic congregation. Catholicity in Beaufort : St. Peter's Catholic Church for record, Beaufort Public Library : 1936 which she later presented before the Beaufort County Historical Society. It is cataloged as Beaufort County Historical Society Paper #40. The History Committee of Historic Church Preservation Task Force published a History of St. Peter's Catholic Church & Graveyard in 2013.
Grace Chapel African American Methodist Episcopal Church 145th year Commemorative Journal : Grace: Our Link to the Past, Our Bridge to the Future was written and published by Church staff and parishioners in 2014.
Wesley United Methodist Church, Beaufort, South Carolina was the subject of a Savannah College of Art and Design thesis by Jennifer D. Satterthwaite that covers a lot of the church's history during the author's investigation of the cemetery at the church.
South of the Broad River churches that have given the BDC a copy of their histories are St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, 2000) and The Church of the Cross: An Episcopal Parish in Bluffton, South Carolina by Albert Sidney Thomas (1954). Indeed, there are three church histories related to this particular congregation.
We have church histories for several Hampton and Jasper County congregations too. The History of Beaver Dam Baptist Church, Grays, South Carolina, 1834 - 1984 compiled by Dee Dee George Cope (1985); Great Swamp Baptist Church History, 1845 - 1995 by Betty Nettles (Brentwood Christian Press, 1995); and Prince Williams Primitive Baptist Church : January 1841 - February 1931 (2013) and Prince Williams Baptist Church, 1812 - 1840 : History, Records, Families (2012) were authored by Sandra Samz and self-published by the Prince William Primitive Baptist Historical Foundation. 
In addition to these formal histories, we maintain clippings files for more than 75 churches and synagogues in the former Beaufort District. Some of the files are slim, just an article or two that was gleaned from a newspaper or magazine while others are quite hefty and include church e-newsletters collected in the past decade or so. The BDC has a 3-foot wide drawer full of nothing but clippings about area churches, VF CHURCHES- ALL SAINTS CHAPEL to CHURCHES - ZION CHAPEL.
There are also some general denominational histories such as the ones for the Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, Anglican and Quaker denominations in South Carolina. There are a few more general treatments of African American religious practices and denominations, Calvinists, French Huguenots, and Jews in the Palmetto State.
Check our catalog to see if we happen to have a history of the religious organization that interests you. We'll be happy to set up an appointment for you to come in and review what we have available.
But let's say that you've looked in the catalog, and don't see your church, synagogue, or temple listed.
* We gladly accept donations of histories for congregations that were founded in Beaufort District or that currently exist in Beaufort County.... and we go a step further...
* If you're willing to take on researching and writing a history of your religious organization, we will gladly help guide you to resources here and elsewhere that can help you research your congregational history of choice.
Reminder: We will close at 5 pm on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 per our usual schedule, remain closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving holidays, and will re-open on Monday, November 29th, 2021 for those with a confirmed research appointment.
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