Live Oak Methodist Church — Manning, South Carolina

This abandoned house of worship in Manning is no longer standing. Called Live Oak Methodist church, the congregation formed after the Civil War. The simple Greek Revival sanctuary shown here was built for the church around 1887. It served the parishioners of Live Oak Methodist for nearly a century, closing in February of 1986. Live oaks (Quercus virginiana) flank the entrance to the church, likely lending to its name.

In 1990 the South Carolina United Methodist Conference deeded the church and surrounding property to the Live Oak Cemetery Association. After sitting vacant and neglected for over two decades, the church was finally demolished in 2007 due to structural damage. Live Oak Cemetery lies adjacent to the empty lot on which the church stood.

The Clarendon County Archives sent the photo below and shares, “When Live Oak Church was damaged beyond saving and torn down, this monument was erected to preserve the memory of this beautiful church.”

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Live Oak Methodist Church Map

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