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Pickens Chapel

SC PICTURE PROJECT 5 Comments

SC Picture Project / Anderson County / Pickens Chapel

Tucked into an Easley forest is the founding site of one of the Piedmont’s oldest congregations, Richmond Church. This group of Presbyterians organized in 1785, shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Hopewell, which defined land boundaries between the Cherokee Indians and white settlers. The settlers had already gained control of much of the surrounding territory from the Cherokee Indians in 1777. Captain Robert Pickens, cousin of Revolutionary War hero General Andrew Pickens, established his home near Twenty Three Mile Creek (also called Three and Twenty Mile Creek) in 1785 and helped found Richmond Church on his land shortly thereafter.

Pickens Chapel

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2007 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

A nearby Presbyterian congregation was called Twenty Three Mile Church for the creek of the same name. It is believed that these two burgeoning groups, which likely first gathered for worship outdoors, merged to form Carmel Church in 1787. A log structure was built on this site shortly after Carmel Church was established. Though General Pickens is said to have visited the church, he was a founding member of nearby Hopewell Church, now Old Stone Church, where he is interred. Hopewell formed in 1789 as a sister church to Carmel.

Pickens Chapel Easley

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2007 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Captain Pickens’ father, an Irish immigrant named Robert Pike Pickens, was nearing the end of his life when he accompanied his son to the new settlement at Twenty Three Mile Creek. The elder Robert Pickens was the first person to be buried in Carmel’s churchyard, following his death in 1793. Also buried at the site is a slave called Aunt Jemima. She loved to be 105.

Aunt Jemima Headstone

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2007 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Methodism quickly spread across the South in the late eighteenth century, and Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury preached to the settlers around Twenty Three Mile Creek. Many Presbyterians from Carmel Church converted to the denomination as a result, including Captain Pickens. The new Methodists left Carmel and built a neighboring church on more of Pickens’ land, leaving the log church to the Presbyterians. Around 1802 Carmel Church relocated to a piece of property on Indian Creek in Liberty owned by Ezekiel Pilgrim; its members dismantled the cabin and reassembled it at the new site. Pilgrim later sold the property to the church.

Pickens Cemetery Marker

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2007 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The Methodist and Presbyterian churches sat on either side of the present-day Anderson County–Pickens County border and shared the original graveyard at the first Carmel Church site, which was still owned by Captain Pickens. More than two dozen Revolutionary War soldiers are interred within the burial ground. Carmel Presbyterian Church continued to grow at its new location. The current brick church housing Carmel Presbyterian Church in Liberty was built between 1855 and 1856.

The Methodist church eventually moved back to the original Richmond/Carmel site. The present structure, pictured here, was built in 1888 and called Wesley Methodist Church. After the church disbanded in the late 1920s, it became the home of Lighthouse Baptist Church, which has since relocated. Today the vacant structure is simply known as Pickens Chapel, and the property on which it sits remains in the Pickens family.

Plan Your Trip: Pickens Chapel

Where is Pickens Chapel located?
Address: 700 Three and Twenty Road, Easley, SC 29642
GPS Coordinates: 34.739564,-82.592631
What else should I see?
Yesterville 4.3 miles
Carmel Presbyterian Church 4.8 miles
Cedar Wreath School 6.2 miles
Dr. J.C. Walker Home 9.6 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Churches
  • Easley Historic Sites
    Pickens Chapel Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ed Kelly says

      April 17, 2022 at 5:43 PM

      Unfortunately, the church has been demolished. I understand the property was donated to Southern Wesleyan University.

      Reply
    2. William Granger says

      April 5, 2020 at 11:40 AM

      As a child I attended this church with my family members and friends, and after church every Sunday my father and mother cleaned the church. After service my father would stand me in a chair and let me preach. I was raised there till the new church was built and moved to the new church of Mt. Pisgah, and I watched my dad and preacher Ford build the new church. As for myself, I was very happy at old Pickens Chapel.

      Reply
    3. William Ballew says

      September 29, 2019 at 9:54 PM

      Would LOVE to see this old historic church building restored for future generations to be able to see. Maybe someone could start a fundraiser or generate interest in seeing this happen. Just an idea for a VERY WORTHWHILE CAUSE, would hate to see this historic church building just continue to disintegrate to nothing. Fellow readers please share your thoughts!

      Reply
    4. William Ballew says

      September 29, 2019 at 9:48 PM

      Diane Mathews, as far as I know it’s open to visitors and the cemetery is in pretty good shape back in the woods (but not heavily wooded). This is certainly a very historic site and quite a thrill to visit! You will enjoy it, I’m sure!

      Reply
    5. Diane Mathews says

      May 18, 2019 at 3:08 PM

      I have Smith ancestors buried there. Is it open to visitors or is there too much woods and unfriendly animals there?

      Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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