How Does a church BEGIN? And how does it go on?
A brief history of Trinity Methodist, Darlington
Two centuries ago, the court house town of Darlington County had one church. Because most of South Carolina's inland settlers came from Scotland, it was Presbyterian.
Fearless for her time, the wife of Captain of Militia John Gibson traveled often to Georgetown, the Pee Dee=s principal trading port. She'd visit her family while overseeing shipments for her husband's general store. In the 1820s, Martha Gibson attended a Methodist revival and came back excited: she'd promised the revivalist (probably the articulate, pine-knot tough James Jenkins, ancestor of our Llewellyn Fields Hart) that if he'd come to Darlington or send a preacher, she'd guarantee to gather an audience.
"John," she said, "I've given my word. Please help."
John Gibson, a strong, upright, no-nonsense, Scottish man,had a soft spot: he was known to Aspoil his wife. Hearers were gathered, the preacher came, and Darlington was so impressed that it formed a Methodist Society.
Revivals in the young United States were frequent and necessary. It was at an 1830s revival that former partners Gibson and Moses Sanders ended their long-standing feud. As the two big men grasped hands and made their peace, gasps were heard and tears came. The grace of God and Bible-based Methodism changed their lives.
From that day, the pair competed to see who could do more for the fledgling church, Trinity's ancestor. Sanders donated land for a sanctuary and cemetery; Captain John donated materials and got it built. The unceiled high roof and windows welcomed summer breezes; winter warmth came from energetic singing and a pair of pot-bellied stoves. Sanders' 1840 Will left a large legacy to the conscience of the congregation, with 1/3 designated for the education of slaves.
If Mrs. Gibson had not brought a Methodist preacher to Darlington, her husband would surely have remained within his ancestral denomination, and Moses Sanders could well have gone on blocking his former business partner John Gibson from walking across his property to Gibson's store each day.
Gravestones in Trinity's old cemetery, many of them broken now and faded, point toward an incomplete story of Darlington's beginnings. To settle here in the Pee Dee (and many to move farther on), Christians and adventurers from many nations crossed a wild ocean toward hope for a freer life and freer worship. Trinity will gladly supply directions to the cemetery and an inclusive list of names; just ask.
Dargan, McLeod, Muldrow, Ochs (Oaks), Savage, Miller, DuBose, Black, Layton, Haynesworth, Blackwell, Siskron, Westbury, White, Woods, Zimmerman, Rugg, Rast, Nettles, Liles, numerous McCalls and more -- if any name listed above is familiar to you or your family from the past, Trinity members want to work with you toward better knowledge, hoping to solve our mysteries and yours, possibly to publish for others. We could hope to revive honor for some whose mortal remains lie in this historic ground. In any case, bring along your imagination and respect for the past for a morning among the inscriptions.
Since 1905, Trinity Methodist has stood on a Pearl Street corner, a short block southwest of the Public Square. The dark-red-brick 1905 sanctuary is Norman, with a Norman bell tower to chime a welcome rather than a spire. Various members have wanted and even left funds to erect a spire, but none has appeared, which suits those of us who are used to our unusual look. There were beautiful stained-glass windows in the old building that this building replaced, but they were stored away and later auctioned to the members. They were beautiful, and the present windows are glorious. Just come see. A Roman Catholic visitor exclaimed when she saw them, "Oh, now I feel at home. There's Jesus all around."
Praise God!
Trinity's sanctuary windows were dedicated to various members and family groups who gave special donations for them or who gave service instead. The window least obvious in the sight of the congregation is the one easiest for the organist to view. On it is the name Rosa Lee McCall. Of all the McCalls in our earliest cemetery, she was the last, and she was our organist. I remember her excitement at seeing the magnificent organ of today installed, its pipes soaring almost to the ceiling. "Miss Rosa" is one of many wonderful Christians who built our Trinity and whose lives were made splendid by closeness to Jesus Christ.
At mid-20th century, Trinity was blessed with dedicated leaders who spent their energy inspiring young people from all over Darlington. Those leaders -- notably Mr D L (Daniel Lester) Holley, then Principal of St John's Elementary School -- made Trinity's Methodist Youth Fellowship an inspirational beacon for my generation. Without a thought of proselytizing and with pure good will toward all who showed up, Mr Holley simply went about making us glad to be together in spirit and in fun. We even had 'folk dancing' -- no, I mean folk GAMES; we played folk GAMES, we had to remember to say, even though it may have looked like dancing.
Oh, we were blessed; we loved our grownups and we loved each other.
Until well into the twentieth century, Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, later changed to Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and still later to the Trinity United Methodist Church (a name under dire threat of becoming hypocritical in 2021), women were not allowed to teach adults in this and many other churches. The only class for women was the Winston J Rogers Class, called so for a gentleman who once taught it. Former Trinity Historian Mincey Copeland located some of Mr Rogers' descendants, but they showed faint interest. (Suggestion: If your ancestor is honored, pay attention.) Beginning in the '40s, women teachers of the Winston J Rogers Class included Mincey Copeland, Caroline Kilgo, and Mabel Johnston. In the 1950s the class had 60 active members. The years since, including the pandemic year of Covid 19, have produced a sad depletion.
Please come inside the sacred and beautiful sanctuary built for the Lord and for us by our ancestors and yours, or into a Bible class, or come for a meeting.
Whether for a brief visit or a meal with us or a place of peace or for all the rest of your church life, we warmly hope -- and we fully intend -- that all who seek the Lord will find a warm welcome at Trinity Methodist Church in Darlington.
In His Name,
M B (Beverly) Spears, for the History Committee