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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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First Presbyterian Church

SC PICTURE PROJECT 2 Comments

SC Picture Project / Greenwood County / First Presbyterian Church

In 1770, when Presbyterians minsters first arrived from New York and Philadelphia to the area known as Long Cane – now Abbeville, Greenwood, and McCormick counties – they helped form a Presbyterian congregation in Rocky Creek, just north of present-day Greenwood. The new congregation, called Rocky Creek Church, quickly built a frame structure for worship followed by a newer, larger frame church in 1815. Incorporated in 1844, the church officially changed its name to Rock Presbyterian Church in 1845.

First Presbyterian Greenwood

Andy Hunter of North Augusta, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

By the mid-nineteenth century, the area south of Rocky Creek, which would become chartered as Greenwood in 1857, was becoming more populated. A small group of Presbyterians from the burgeoning town began meeting in a central building around 1850, which was simply called The Chapel. The Chapel was used by various denominations, including the Methodists who would form Main Street United Methodist Church. As Greenwood grew, members from Rock Church began traveling to Greenwood to attend Presbyterian services at The Chapel. From this group, First Presbyterian Church formed and was officially organized in 1883. The Reverend John McLees, who ministered to both First Presbyterian and Rock Presbyterian Church before his death in 1882, was a founding father of First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood.

Greenwood First Presbyterian

Andy Hunter of North Augusta, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

By the time a building was ready for the new church, in 1899, Rock Presbyterian Church had been closed for seven years, largely due to dwindling membership. As the new church in Greenwood continued to grow, an educational building was added in 1924, and the present sanctuary was built in 1957. The original 1899 sanctuary is still used by the church and is presently called Alexander Hall.

Greenwood Presbyterian Church

Andy Hunter of North Augusta, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

With the help of First Presbyterian Church members, Rock Presbyterian Church was reorganized and opened again in 1956. That church’s present stone edifice, completed in 1960, replaced the historic frame church, which burned the year before. First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood is also the mother church of Fraser Presbyterian Church (now Faith Christian Center Church), which was formed in 1947 as Second Presbyterian Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church, formed in 1981.

Plan Your Trip: First Presbyterian Church

Where is First Presbyterian Church located?
Address: 108 East Cambridge Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646
GPS Coordinates: 34.194982,-82.160785
Website: http://www.firstgreenwood.com
What else should I see?
Main Street United Methodist Church 0.1 mile
Greenwood Gazebo 0.2 mile
Greenwood Community Theatre 0.3 mile
Lander University 0.5 mile
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Churches
  • Greenwood Historic Sites
    First Presbyterian Church Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ms. Carolyn Eigel says

      May 13, 2019 at 8:37 AM

      Yes, this was helpful. I merely wish I could have printed off the map that tells me how to get there from Greenville. My printer has been rebelling against me.

      Reply
      • SC Picture Project says

        May 13, 2019 at 10:04 AM

        While we don’t have a way to print this out for you, perhaps you could write the directions down so you’re still able to go?

        Merge onto I-185 S toward Atlanta (Portions toll).
        Then 7.90 miles

        
Merge onto US-25 S via EXIT 7 toward Greenwood.
        Then 40.94 miles

        Stay straight to go onto Montague Ave/US-25 Bus S/US-178 Bus E. Continue to follow US-25 Bus S/US-178 Bus E.
        Then 1.39 miles

        
Turn slight left onto Cambridge Ave/SC-72 Bus. Continue to follow Cambridge Ave.

        Cambridge Ave is just past Lander St
        Then 0.25 miles

        108 CAMBRIDGE AVE E is on the right.

        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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