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Halfway Creek Church

SC PICTURE PROJECT 14 Comments

SC Picture Project / Berkeley County / Halfway Creek Church

Rural Shulerville nestled within the Francis Marion National Forest is home to this abandoned church in Berkeley County. Though this building was constructed in 1941, the first sanctuary built on this site was a Methodist church made of logs in 1828. Now surrounded solely by forest, the church site was once part of a community comprised of several families. The first church belonged to the Cooper River Circuit, a Methodist preaching circuit, along with seven or eight other congregations. A school added at some point by Methodists also sat on adjacent property before being torn down in 1949.

Halfway Creek Church Exterior

Jack Durnin of Charleston, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

As membership declined with the gradual loss of the population in this rural area during the 1840s, the church became dormant. As a result, the church was dropped by the Methodist conference. However, in 1847 a new church was built a mile from the original site, called Dawn of Hope.

Side View of Halfway Creek Church

Mike Tillison of Orangeburg, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

It flourished until the advent of the Civil War, when that church was abandoned due to lack of members. A house of worship in this vicinity was revitalized in 1875 by Reverend H.G. Gantt, who built a new church on the original site and gave it the name Halfway Creek Church for the creek that runs near it.

Halfway Creek Church Interior

Jack Durnin of Charleston, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

By 1901 the church was once again vacant until it was deeded to Esaw, or Enon Baptist Church, in 1906. As that church declined through subsequent decades, the building was eventually torn down. In 1941 the property came under the stewardship of New Wappetaw Presbyterian Church in McClellanville, who built this structure for rural residents.

Halfway Creek Church Berkeley

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Interestingly, the foundation sits upon wooden piers. In 2005 New Wappetaw Presbyterian transferred control of the building to Bethany Pentecostal Holiness Church, who still owns the empty church and surrounding property.

Halfway Creek Church

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Aerial Views of Halfway Creek Church


Halfway Creek Church Aerial

Tom Fernandez of Summerville, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Halfway Creek Church Aerial

Tom Fernandez of Summerville, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Halfway Creek Church Belltower

Tom Fernandez of Summerville, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Halfway Creek Church Aerial

Tom Fernandez of Summerville, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Halfway Creek Church

Where is Halfway Creek Church located?
Address: 8121 Halfway Creek Road, Shulerville, SC 29453
GPS Coordinates: 33.114058,-79.6475722
What else should I see?
Eccles United Methodist Church 9.5 miles
Awendaw Boat 9.6 miles
Old King's Highway 12.2 miles
The Shady Rest 12.9 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Bygone Landmarks
  • See other South Carolina Churches
    Halfway Creek Church Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dallas Wells says

      October 16, 2019 at 10:39 AM

      I help keep the grass cut at this beautiful churchyard, and I’m dissapointed to see it in its current condition. I believe it should be preserved.

      Reply
    2. Dale Gaskins says

      October 16, 2019 at 8:20 AM

      I have grandparents buried there – also an uncle, a brother, and other loved ones.

      Reply
    3. Warren Morris says

      June 6, 2019 at 10:48 AM

      Love the old church and cemetery. Also any history of the people of that area. I am a Morris and have many family members buried there. Would love to discuss any ties or interest in Halfway Creek.

      Reply
    4. Bernice Cumbee says

      October 21, 2018 at 3:18 PM

      Loretta Brown Myers I would like to see the old pictures that you have of the Halfway Creek Church. I HAVE A LOT OF kin buried there and also my mom went to school there Thank you

      Reply
    5. Macy Gaskins says

      November 26, 2017 at 5:55 PM

      My dad William Edward Gaskins was just buried there on Saturday.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        November 27, 2017 at 12:14 AM

        We are so sorry for your loss!

        Reply
    6. Barbara Orvin Crawford says

      November 10, 2017 at 12:10 PM

      I believe that this is the church that my great-grandfather is buried at. I went there a couple of years ago but cannot find his grave. Does anyone have a list of people buried there?

      Reply
    7. Sharon Brown Roberts says

      May 23, 2016 at 8:02 PM

      The grave in last picture is of my mom Salome Lee Lambert Brown.

      Reply
    8. Bill Hills says

      May 23, 2016 at 5:41 PM

      My grandfather, John Terry Hills of McClellanville, helped to build this church in 1941. He was also a lay preacher there on occasion. I have a heart pine bench and a bootjack that the men of the congregation gave him as a token of appreciation. My cousin John Terry Hills has a heart pine miter box that was used in the construction. It would be good to see the building salvaged.

      Reply
    9. Loretta Brown Myers says

      August 13, 2015 at 9:49 AM

      I have the old photos from the newspaper in 1941 while the church was being rebuilt. I also have 2010 pictures of the podium which is on loan in McClellandville, SC. I also have pictures from the 1970s before the church was so ransacked, with my father behind the podium. I did a complete cemetery and church history in 2010. Annually I walk the cemetery and send updates to the people/organizations it was originally distributed to. I will be glad to share what I have with you. Loretta

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        August 13, 2015 at 10:28 AM

        Wow, Loretta, how wonderful! we would love to have more information or historic photos that would enhance this page. Please send anything along to us here: http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/ We greatly appreciate your help and knowledge!

        Reply
      • Doug Decker/ Clara Decker( Brinson,Williams) says

        April 7, 2018 at 3:29 PM

        Hello Larreta, my mother Clara Decker -Williams-Brinson grew up there and attended the church as a child back in the 20s and 30s. Many of our relatives are buried in the church cemetery including Melvin Brinson, Barbara Brinson , Isaac Brinson and some others. We live in California now but visit someone often. Would really love to see the information you have about the cemetery in the history of the church. Thank you so much for all the work you’ve done on it. Sincerely, Doug Decker and Clara Decker

        Reply
      • Jill Powell says

        June 12, 2022 at 5:23 PM

        If anyone has any information on Half Way Creek, please get in touch with me at canteyhunter@gmail.com

        Reply
    10. Kay Schneider says

      June 4, 2014 at 2:13 PM

      I visited Halfway Creek Church and cemetery on May 30, 2014. Although the church is in great disrepair from exposure to the elements and vandals, the cemetery gravesides are well maintained. I wonder if the are any photographs of the first two church structures ( circa 1828 and pre-Confederate War) built on the site that could be posted here? It’s a lovely, peaceful spot in a long leaf pine forest.

      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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