The Songwriter Rev. S.J. Stone wrote “The Church’s One Foundation is Jesus Christ Our Lord.” The foundation of the Church family now called Nazareth Reformed Episcopal Church – was laid Sunday evening, June 6, 1875 in a bush tent at Somerset, in Pinopolis, Berkeley County, South Carolina.
The congregation had previously been an affiliate of the Protestant Episcopal Church, but on, or about December 11, 1874, a convention was held in Pinopolis consisting of delegates from Calvary Church, Swamp Fox; Redeemer Church, Pineville; Nazareth Church, Pinopolis; and Bethlehem Church, Oakley to take into consideration what course they would pursue to bring about a permanent organization among the Colored People who were Episcopalians. The meeting was called to order by Mr. F. C. Ferguson, who rose and stated, “The object here tonight is a most peculiar one. We are consider our situation in the Episcopal Church of which we claim to be members. Has the Protestant Episcopal Church given the Negro a church or not? I answer NO!”
“Four Colored men have been turned away from the doors of her ministry. Where this will end we do not know. Have we and organization as a church? I contend that we need one for ourselves and our children.” Mr. Ferguson further asked, “Shall we continue in the Protestant Episcopal Church and be treated as we are now?” The house responded , “We will withdraw from it if the church still refuses to recognize us.”
Mr. Ferguson asked, “Where shall we go? To the Methodist Episcopal Church?”
Mr. Deas replied, “No, I move that we go to the Reformed Episcopal Church.”
The motion was second and put to a vote, and adopted without a dissenting voice. The convention then requested Mr. Ferguson to correspond with Bishop George Cummins, Bishop of the year-old Reformed Episcopal Church.
The answer and good news arrived June 6, 1875 in the person of Rev. Benjamin Johnson. He came representing Bishop Cummins with tidings that the good Christians of South Carolina would be most welcome to come into the Reformed Episcopal Church.
In 1877, the Nazareth congregation erected a building at Wampee Plantation. Here they worshiped for about fifteen years. However, the land had never been deeded to the congregation; thus the plantation owner could and eventually did, force it to move.
Throughout the period between 1875-1877, the church was led by two zealous men---first, Bishop Peter F. Stevens, a renowned soldier who called for the first shot to be fired during the Civil War. He taught at the South Carolina Military Academy, (now the Citadel), where his distinguished portrait hangs in the lobby of the Daniel Library, and at Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina. Second was the Reverend Frank C. Ferguson, the first black man to be ordained as a Presbyter in the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Rev. Ferguson was a man of vision-with unshakable faith in his people. He knew well their deeper aspirations and was determined to help bring about their realization.
He rejected the idea of “second-class membership” in any church holding that “The Gospel was God’s legacy to All men…without regard to race, color or previous condition of servitude.”
Rev. Ferguson was succeeded by Rev. Stephen Bash.
Being forced to move from Wampee, the congregation then moved to Pinopolis where it had been given some property by a Mr. Richard MacBeth.
This was known as “Old Nazareth.” Here it flourished until 1944 when it had to make way for the Santee Cooper Project.
It acquired its present site in 1944, and a new church was constructed under the pastorship of Rev. Simon P. Warren, one of the most outstanding church builders in our jurisdiction.
Between the years 1964 and 1965, Nazareth saw a marked increase in membership as many members of the former St. Paul Reformed Episcopal, which was destroyed by fire in 1963, joined in fellowship and made Nazareth their home.
Nazareth forged ahead to higher heights from the building of 1944 to a newly erected structure in 1968. Despite her many trials and tribulations, Nazareth has never really faltered or lost her “go ahead” spirit. Her growth throughout the years shows a consistent rise in membership and assets. Her pulpit has been filled by worthy men of God who each, in his own way, has served valiantly and well; Stevens, Ferguson, Bash, West, Capers, Grant, Madison, Smith, Mazyck, Mack, Liferidge, Collins, Blandon, Warren, Aiken, Rembert, Harris, Milligan, Lloyd, Milligan and McCray. It should be noted that Rev. Benjamin Milligan served longer than any other pastor in Nazareth’s history—more than 23 years and that both Rev. Alfred Addison and Rev. David B. Bland served as interim Pastor during times of transition. Nazareth stands proudly as the oldest or “Mother Church” of the reformation and of the Reformed Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Her children have made, and are making, their impression on the community as good citizens. Many have found their way into honorable professions, among them: law, medicine, engineering, law enforcement, business, education, and the military.
On April 21, 1990, a letter was submitted to Bishop Sanco K. Rembert, then Bishop of the Charleston, Atlanta and Charlotte Synod, and the Standing Committee, requesting approval of the construction of a new sanctuary, and a church charter. The letter was received and approval granted. After many months of hard work, and through God’s grace, Nazareth, with her new sanctuary and renovated educational wing, hosted the 1996 Diocesan Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church of the Diocese of the Southeast.
On Sunday, October 27, 2007, Nazareth held a Mortgage Burning Ceremony.
Today, Nazareth stands upon the threshold of a bright future, and like the wise virgins of Biblical report, she stands with her lamps trimmed and burning. She embraces her vision of being a beacon in her community. Her prayer is as that of Jabeez---that God will bless her and enlarge her territory. Your prayers with her and for her will make her days ahead ones of which we can all be proud.
The Church’s One Foundation is Jesus Christ Her Lord.
To God Be the Glory ----- Great Things He Has Done!
