We
at Summerville Presbyterian are committed to the belief that God is
sovereign and Jesus is Lord over every area of human life. The
programs of Summerville Presbyterian are offered to anyone who would
participate, and are planned to the end that those who share in them
might grow into a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and
life. We hope that this church will be judged by the integrity of
its
worship, by the seriousness of its study, by the tenderness and
strength of its life together, and its effort to translate the faith
into concrete service to others. The ministry of Summerville
Presbyterian is yours to bear and yours upon which to depend. You are
invited, in the name of Jesus, our Lord, to find your place in this
community of faith, and to call upon this community whenever you are
in need.
History
The
Summerville Presbyterian Church was established in 1859 by Charleston
Presbytery in the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Coupled
with the years of its predecessor, The Old White (Congregational)
Church of Dorchester, SC, founded in 1696, the history of service to
Christ is long and notable. Prior to 1696 churches had been organized
in New England by Puritans, or Separatists, who had been forced out of
the Church of England because of their belief in a
"congregational" type of church. Each congregational church
was completely independent of all others. One such church, The
Independent White Church, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, responded to
appeals from colonists in the low
country "to go to Carolina and settle the gospel there."
From this group, a church was organized in Massachusetts.
They came to South Carolina and settled on the Ashley River, about
four miles
from Summerville. This early church was White Meeting House. In 1831
another church
building was erected in Summerville for worship during the summer
months and gradually became the regular place of worship. On March 20,
1859, a petition was presented Charleston Presbytery to establish an
Old School Presbyterian Church in Summerville. On June 9th of that
year a commission of Presbytery conducted ceremonies officially
establishing the Summerville Presbyterian Church. The original
constitution of 1859 is still in possession of the church. By an act
of the South Carolina Legislature in 1882 all property of the Old
White Church was vested in Summerville Presbyterian Church. The
present sanctuary was erected in 1895, and restored in 1980.
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