This humble chapel, located eight miles northeast of Pacolet in the Asbury community, is one of few remaining African-American churches in the South Carolina upcountry dating from the Reconstruction era. Prior to Emancipation, slaves typically accompanied their white owners to church. In this part of Cherokee County, that meant that most slaves attended nearby Asbury Methodist Church.
After the Civil War, former slaves were eager to establish their own churches where they could worship freely. Oral histories hold that Mulberry Chapel Methodist Church was built sometime around 1880 after Major Jack Littlejohn, a white landowner and former master, donated five acres to the future congregation, provided its members would pick the cotton and clear the grounds.
This information is not necessarily corroborated by the 1876 deed, however, which says that Ellison Knuckolls [sic], Emanual Littlejohn, and Strapp Littlejohn bought the land for $200 from Benjamin F. Dawkins, Sarah Dawkins, J. W. Tench, and N. E. Tench. Oral histories do connect the latter four names to the church’s origin, however, so perhaps there is an overlap. (Major Littlejohn died in 1872.)
Many freedmen kept the surnames of their former owners, and an African-American branch of Littlejohns attended services here for decades. Mulberry Chapel remained active until the 1940s. Though the church now stands largely dormant, members of the Littlejohn family still meet here annually for reunions. Together, these descendants of the church’s founders work on the aging building – which leans noticeably to the right – issuing repairs as they can. They have also been successful both in placing an historical marker nearby and in adding the landmark to the National Register.
Numerous Littlejohn, Dawkins, and Nuckles ancestors are buried in the church’s graveyard, including noted South Carolina African-American Samuel Nuckles, a former slave who served as one of three black state representative from Union County (prior to the creation of Cherokee County) during Reconstruction. As such, he participated in South Carolina’s 1868 Constitutional Convention. There are roughly 40 known graves in all, half of which are unmarked. The most recent gravestone dates to 2006.
Finally, Mulberry Chapel is notable for its architecture, which according to the National Register, serves as an “intact example of a vernacular form of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture” – a fancy way of saying that the church was built by laymen (former slaves) who added Gothic Revival details to the extent that they were able given their budget and supplies. The stain-glass cross embedded above the front door was created by a neighbor and added two years after the dedication of the church’s historic marker in 2008. It may have replaced an earlier window. The belfry still stands proudly atop the roof and boasts its original bell.
It is important to note that a different Littlejohn reunion for the descendants of the Litttlejohns from Asbury Methodist is held at the nearby church each October.
As mentioned, Mulberry Chapel is listed in the National Register:
Mulberry Chapel Methodist Church, built circa 1880, is significant for its association with African American heritage in the South Carolina upcountry during Reconstruction and for its architectural significance as an intact example of a vernacular form of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture. Mulberry Chapel Methodist Church is a local example of one of the most significant social changes precipitated by black freedom – the establishment of independent black churches and denominations. It was part of a large social pattern, which resulted from two pressures: blacks’ desire to exercise their hard-won freedom from slavery and to avoid white antagonism. Before the Civil War, black slaves in the surrounding area attended the Asbury Methodist Church less than a mile away. By 1870, most blacks and whites worshiped in separate churches.
Mulberry Chapel Methodist Church is one of only a few extant African-American churches in South Carolina dating from the first twenty-five years after the Civil War and is a rare example in the South Carolina upcountry. The northern half of the property contains a historic cemetery with approximately twenty marked graves and an additional twenty or more unmarked ones. Headstones date from 1888 to the 1960s. It is organized by family plot. Many of the people interred in the cemetery may have been former slaves, as indicated by the birth years. The most prominent figure associated with the cemetery is Samuel Nuckles, a former slave who served in the 1868 Constitutional Convention and represented Union County in the South Carolina House of Representatives during Reconstruction, between 1868 and 1872.
Reflections on Mulberry Chapel
Tom Taylor, a Greenville-based photographer and adventurer, shared the photos above. He visited Mulberry Chapel in late January 2014, after a small Upstate snowfall, and describes the scene he found that cold Thursday morning: “Just a few hundred yards past the Nuckolls-Jeffries House, Mulberry Chapel sits just a bit off the road to the left. The little church truly is a beautiful structure, but it’s also not in the best of shape. The belfry is listing a bit, although the bell is still there. The entire building seems to be leaning to the right, to the point that it has separated from its chimney on the left side of the building.” (Read more of Tom’s Mulberry post.)
I have a question. What proof is there that Samuel Knuckles and the Littlejohn family were from Africa. Does anyone have the documentation from owner Oliver Littlejohn or Edmund Andros?
Thanks to everyone who has left a comment or thought. The history is rich and yes, the condition of the church is poor, but there was a time not too long ago when this was not the case. My grandfather, Carl E. Littlejohn, was the first president of the annual Littlejohn reunion that started in 1953. The second Sunday in September was the date selected, and as a child it was Christmas in September. The church would be full with family from both near and far, and with musical entertainment from the Wilkie sisters to the Soul Seekers. The service was always entertaining as who traveled the farthest, the oldest to the youngest, etc., but the real fellowship started when the ladies prepared tables as wide as the church. Under large oak trees, children would run and play while the adults enjoyed the shade. Laughter abounded! Those were the days that I’ll never forget and hope whoever had this experience feels the same.
William, I wanted to take a moment to let you know that this is one of the nicest and best comments we have ever received. I had goose bumps reading it, and it was easy to imagine I was right there. You are a wonderful writer, and these details give a life and soul to this church’s entry that no “fact” or “research” could ever provide. I am so grateful you took the time to type this and send it in, and I am pretty sure that everyone else who reads it will be grateful too. Thank you for this gift! Robin
My great-grandmother and family belonged to this church. When Mulberry Chapel didn’t have service, then they would attend Mount Tabor Baptist Church.
My name is Stacey From California. Emmanuel and Strap Littlejohn are my 3rd and 4th greatggrandfathers. I am honored to read this. My Great-great grandma is Stherouna Littlejohn, daughter of Emmanuel. I also descend from the Lipscombs as well. I read that Lt. Oliver Littlejohn was given captives in Virginia by the Governor and told to not treat them as slaves. Oliver then took them to Gaffney, SC. From the picture of Strap Littlejohn on ancestry.com he most definitely looks Indian. Could anybody help me out?
Thanks so much for this article and pictures. After doing Ancestry, I’ve discovered Strapp Littlejohn is one of my grandfathers on my mother’s side, and I’m related to the Littlejohns and Nuckles. My family are die-hard Methodists, and after reading this article it makes total sense. I live just up the road in Atlanta, so sometime in 2020 I’m planning to drive to Mulberry Chapel and see it in person.
I just learned about this church after seeing a pic of it at a fall festival. I hope to visit it this weekend. Is there a physical address for it?
Hi Kelley! The address is 582 Asbury Road in Pacolet. 🙂
Is this church going to be torn down? It is falling in and the front door is open.
8/10/2019
Hi Terri, we’re not sure, but we sure hope not. We agree that it does seem to be in a state of serious disrepair however. It is a beautiful old structure, and it is so sad to see it this way.
I was delighted to read this article on the Littlejohn family. My grandfather was the Rev. Benjamin C. Littlejohn, and I believe his parents were slaves under Major Littlejohn. My grandmother was Rhoda Dawkins. I believe she was from the family of Sarah Dawkins. I was told her mother was white. My mother always told me whe was born in Cowpens, South Carolina.
Can anyone tell me who is over this church? Who pays the taxes?
Was the church a AME, AMEZ, or CME Church.
To our understanding the church was AME.
Have the interested parties established a 501(3)c organization? Or can they do that as an adjunct or line item to some SC historical organization? The current efforts and the history show the level of concern that has been operating in some sectors; much of that has slipped away among the current “generational poverty” population, and we all will benefit if we can help restore that heritage.
Interesting!!!