Hopewell Presbyterian Church – Florence, SC

The history of Presbyterianism dates the origin of its name in Biblical times, when the Greek word meaning elder was very similar to the word for Presbyterian. Thus, the Presbyterian Church is, literally speaking, a church governed by elders: Teaching Elders (ministers) and Ruling Elders (laymen elected by the people).

In the New Testament, individual churches governed by groups of elders elected by the people, were united under a common principle, known to us as the principle of presbytery. Questions affecting the whole church were referred to a central council or synod composed of apostles and elders. In addition to these apostles and elders, this New Testament church elected a group of officers known as deacons. Following this precedent, the Presbyterian Church has modeled its government from these same New Testament principles.

Presbyterianism had its formal beginning some four hundred years ago, having been founded by John Calvin. Calvin’s influence is seen not only in our system of doctrines, but also in the Catechism, Confession of Faith, and form of church government. Calvin’s counterpart in Scotland, John Knox, organized the Presbyterian Church there. These Scotch-Irish, or “Ulster Scots”, made a larger contribution to early American Presbyterianism than any other single group. The influence of Knox on American Presbyterianism was especially felt in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas. From these same Scotch-Irish Presbyterians came the father of American Presbyterianism, Francis Makemie (Lingle, Walter L. Presbyterians,pp22-62).

Historically, Presbyterianism has seen its influence spread into our representative form of Government in America as well. In Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina, the Presbyterian spirit of self-government took definite form in The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, dated May 31, 1775, thirteen months prior to the National Declaration of Independence. Archibald Alexander, a Presbyterian elder, presided over the Mecklenburg Convention with another elder, Dr. Ephraim Brevard, serving as secretary. In addition to the nine elders present, most of the other delegates were connected with the seven local Presbyterian Churches. The Presbyterian Confession of Faith was taken as a guide in preparing the form of government adopted in the Declaration. (Hays, Presbyterians ,pp. 114-115).

It is a notable fact that the Presbyterians had a large share in the government that led up to the
Declaration of Independence, a large part in the Revolutionary War that followed, and an influence, direct and indirect, upon the makers of the Constitution of the United States. It has been frequently remarked that there is a striking resemblance between the Constitution of the United States and the government of the Presbyterian Church.

These doctrines of the Presbyterian Church are set forth in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, The Westminster Larger Catechism, and the Westminster Confession of Faith. Included in these are the time-honored doctrines of Presbyterianism: The Sovereignty of God, that God is the Supreme and absolute ruler of the universe: Predestination, that God has an eternal plan which is so comprehensive that it embraces the whole universe; Salvation by Grace, that salvation is a
gracious gift bestowed upon us from God; and the Final Preservation of the Saints, best exemplified by Jesus’ statement in John 10:28, “ I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, nor shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Hopewell History, James M. Readling)

Hopewell Presbyterian Church at Claussen has changed many times and in many ways between the time of its establishment in 1770 and today. The group of Ulster Presbyterians who landed on the banks of Black River in 1732 were not only strong in the faith of their fathers, but had a great determination that this faith should live after them. They had received a grant of land, 20 miles square from their King, William of Orange, and it was in his honor that the settlement was called “Williamsburg.” From this location the settlers moved out and around the area. One of the first settlements was Indiantown, established in 1757 and located about one and one-half miles from the head of navigation on Black Mingo Creek. It might have been closer, according to the 1957 history of Indiantown Church, had not the intervening lands been owned by a staunch member of Prince Frederick Parish. Great dissention had developed between the colonies and England which included the Church of England. Dissenters were doubly handicapped. Churches of the Establishment were built at government expense, the clergy paid by the state; and practically all elective offices were open only to members of the Church of England. Taxed to aid in the upkeep of the state church and unrecognized as legal bodies, the Presbyterian congregations were forced to raise their own buildings, pay their pastors, and transact their business through trustees.

These Scotch and Irish settlers worked hard, continued to develop their land and churches and the years from 1750 till the Revolution saw rapid development of the area. By act of the Assembly in 1747 commissioners to establish ferries and maintain roads were authorized. An important highway, from Georgetown to the Cheraws was established and became known as the River Road. Serving as Commissioners were John Gregg (1761), Robert McCarty, (also shown as McCawtry in some histories,) (1775) William Wilson and William McCarty in 1777. All of these men were members and Elders of the Indiantown Presbyterian Church.

About 1765 John Gregg, whose family came from near Londonderry, Ireland, moved with four of his sons, James, John, William and Robert and son-in-law William Gordon to the banks of Jeffries Creek about half-way between Georgetown and Cheraw and now known as Claussen. His sons James and John were among Hopewell’s first Elders. History of the Gregg family and also recorded in the history of Hopewell indicates that James, while fighting in the Revolutionary War, was forced to hide in the swamps and sleep in a hollow log. His house was burned and property destroyed. His wife and children were turned out of doors.

Joseph Jolly stands out prominently among the immigrants from Ulster, Scotland, as one of the early founders of the church. In addition to Jolly, Hopewell’s cemetery records the following: Wm. McKenzie , born in Isley, Scotland; John C. McKenzie, Robert and William McSween , born in Argyleshire, Scotland, and John and Conningham
McClenaghan born in the county Antrina, Ireland.

A sister church, Aimwell, also located on River Road and about 20 miles east was established about the same time as Hopewell. This church was founded by families from Williamsburg and Indiantown churches, principally those families of Hugh Ervin, John Ervin, Gavin Witherspoon and John Witherspoon. Hugh and John Ervin became distinguished colonels in general Francis Marion’s Brigade and Gavin Witherspoon, a captain. The church remained active until about 1820 when it disbanded. Most of its members became members of Hopewell. A well kept cemetery remains to commemorate the location.

The 1957 History of Indiantown Presbyterian Church records that about 1779-1780 two hundred men, divided into four companies, were organized to serve with Gen. Francis Marion against the British. Two companies of this group came from Hopewell and Aimwell. The history also indicates that five of Marion’s captains were Elders of Hopewell Presbyterian Church. Unfortunately for Hopewell the first one hundred years of history burned when the minutes book burned in a store fire and all that remains of that time are several pages of handwritten memory recordings made shortly after the fire along with the gatherings of facts from other sources.

Hopewell was probably organized by Rev. James Edmonds of Charleston, who made frequent visit to places that were without organized religious activities, for the purpose of organizing churches in the more thickly settled neighborhoods. It is also reasonable to assume that Rev. John Baxter aided in the founding of the church as he owned much land in the Hopewell section and he preached at the house of Mrs. Britton in the Aimwell neighborhood and in the area of Britton’s Neck before 1765.

The first house of worship at Hopewell was situated across the road from the present structure and was described as “being in Marion County on the road from Georgetown to Cheraw.” This building burned. The Indiantown Church was burned by the British about 1780 “because it was a sedition shop” and even though there is no record of such it would not be a far stretch to consider that the Hopewell church was destroyed deliberately. Undaunted by adversity the Scotch-Irish membership erected a second church which surrendered itself to age after more than seventy years of service. In 1842 the present edifice was constructed directly across the road from the original site, in order that the original site might be devoted exclusively to a cemetery. The old building stood in the center of the graveyard.

Although there is no record of the exact terms of their pastorates up to the year 1790, Hopewell was supplied by these men:

Rev. Robert McClintock, born in Antrim, Ireland, educated in Scotland, and came to America in 1772 with ample credentials from the presbytery of Bailymena, Ireland.
Rev. Thomas Reese, born in Pennsylvania, 1742, grew up in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, educated at Princeton College.
Rev. James Edmonds, born in the city of London about 1720, ordained 1775 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Rev. Robert McColloch, born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina of Scotch-Irish parents, educated at Mount Zion College and ordained in 1789.

On May 21, 1789, just three weeks after George Washington was inaugurated the first President of the United Sates, the first General Assembly met in Philadelphia and took
the name of “The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. At this meeting Hopewell was listed as belonging to the Presbytery of South Carolina and able to support a pastor.

On April 14, 1790 Hopewell called her first full-time minister, Rev. Humphrey Hunter. The background of Mr. Hunter was similar to that of his congregation and forerunners, so he fit easily into the community. He was born near Londonderry, Ireland in 1755, came to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 1759, served as lieutenant in the revolution and was imprisoned in Camden during the war. He was educated at Mount Zion College and later ordained at Hopewell. In 1795, Rev. Hunter went to North Carolina and Hopewell looked to presbytery to supply ministers until 1800. J. W. Stephenson, John Foster and John Couser were appointed during the interim to preach.

In 799 the Presbytery of South Carolina was divided into the First and Second Presbytery of South Carolina, with Hopewell becoming a member of the First Presbytery. In 1800, Rev. Duncan Brown preached as a licentiate and was ordained at Hopewell on September 29, 1803. In 1805 Hopewell and Aimwell reported 57 members. Later in 1809, Rev. Brown moved to Tennessee.

In March, 1810, Harmony Presbytery was organized and Hopewell became a member. Daniel Brown was appointed to supply Hopewell in 1811. By this time the Hopewell and Aimwell membership had increased to 67 members. Two years later Hopewell was again the home of the ordination of a minister, Rev. Daniel Smith, who served until 1819, when his health failed and he was forced to resign.

In 1817 Robert Gregg and his family moved from Hopewell to Lower Peach Tree, Alabama, and helped to organize a church there which they also named Hopewell. The church was called “The little church in the wildwoods.” The next year, the remaining members of Aimwell joined the Hopewell Church.

In 1821, Rev. John Harrington, of Fayetteville Presbytery, was elected pastor of Hopewell, which resulted in an unusual situation. Normally, a minister who accepts a church in another presbytery seeks permission to minister in the church’s presbytery, and is responsible for attending those presbytery meetings. In this case, however, a reversal is found. The church obtained leave from Presbytery of Harmony to make their returns to the Presbytery of Fayetteville as long as Hopewell enjoyed the labors of one of its members. It was during his ministry that the Darlington Presbyterian Church was organized.

In 1827, seventeen members from Hopewell joined together to organize a new church about 25 miles northwest in order to be nearer their lands and homes. They were as follows: Gavin Witherspoon, Daniel DuBose, Abner G. Kellen, Samuel Wilson, Mary A. Wilson, Dr. Murdock McLean, John Jackson, Mary W. Morgan, Elizabeth Witherspoon, Eliza M. Ervin, Sophia Killen Agnes Graham, Sarah Jackson, Hugh Muldrow, John Muldrow and Dorcas DuBose.

The next minister of the Hopewell Church was Rev. Nicholas R. Morgan who came from Mecklenburg Presbytery to serve Hopewell and Darlington Churches until 1832. During his ministry several camp meetings were held, the church was revived and some eighteen or twenty members were added. Early in the year 1834, the Rev. Thomas R. English was ordained and served for two years. It was during his ministry that the State of South Carolina was almost “rent in twain” by the party strife well known as the days of Nullification. Rev. Rufus Bailey and Rev. Uriah Powers were occasional supplies until the year 1836, when Rev. Julius DuBose was elected pastor and served for two years. It was during his ministry that Hopewell had her last camp meeting in 1836. Camp meetings of this period were usually week long affairs of preaching, singing, and praying. Camp meetings drew much criticism because of the emotional states the people developed.

In January, 1836, the church extended a call to the Rev. Joseph Brown of Robeson County, North Carolina, who remained the faithful and beloved pastor for more than twenty years. During his ministry, the present church building was erected in 1842. Rev. Brown died of cancer at the age of 62 and the Hopewell people, in testimony of their affection and regard for him, erected a neat obelisk upon his grave in the Hopewell cemetery. The membership of this time was recorded as follows: 1841, 115 white and 139 colored; 1849, 126 white and 46 colored; 1852, 120 white and 100 colored.

Early in the 1850’s a train stop was located at what is now called Florence. The trains were drawn by wood-burning engines and ran only during the day. Florence became a night lay-over, and a large hotel, the Gamble House, was built. General W.W. Harllee, the President of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad, became the founder of the town, and was allowed the privilege of locating and naming it. He named it for his baby daughter, Florence. General Harllee was also active politically, serving as Lieutenant-Governor of the State before the Confederate War. A signer of the Ordinance of Secession, he was an officer during the war. He and his daughter, Florence are buried in the Hopewell Cemetery. There burial site is

On the first Sabbath in February, 1858, Rev. Thomas R. English, the Evangelist of the Harmony Presbytery preached the first sermon ever delivered in Florence. Later in 1861, he organized the Florence Church with thirty –four members, twenty-one white and thirteen colored, as follows: (white) James McCown, Jerome P. Chase, Robert E. James, Mrs. Mary McLaughlin, Israel Cole, Mrs. E. Cole, Miss E. Plummer, Mrs. A. H. McCown, Mrs. F. Cusack, Mrs. H. B. MCown, Miss M. J. McCown, Mrs. F. A. McPherson, Mrs. H. J. McCall, Mrs. M. P. McCall, D. E. McLaughlin, Mrs. J. McCall, T. McCall, Miss Emmeline McCall, Mrs. M. E. Cole, Miss Catherine M. Cole, and Miss Elizabeth T. F. Cole; (colored) Synthy Eliza. Satira, Nenett, Henry and Caty, servants of Mr. James McCown, Henry and Jackson, servants of Mr. Wm. E. James; Selina, servant of Miss E. L. James; and George, Daniel, January, and Flora, servants of Mr. John T. James. Of interest is that exactly one-half (seventeen) of the founders of this church came from Hopewell.

In 1859, Rev. David Ethan Frierson of the Marion Church became pastor of Hopewell and served through a difficult period. Hopewell, as part of our nation, was entering into a period that would prove costly to her. Harmony Presbytery met on April 6, 1861, just six days before the bombardment of Fort Sumter. The Presbytery took no notice of the excited state of the country , but elected commissioners to the National General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Because the country was in an unsettled state the Harmony commissioners did not attend for fear of their personal safety. The General Assembly met in Philadelphia and passed the Gardiner Spring Resolutions, calling upon Presbyterians, North and South, to support the Federal Government in Washington. Because Southern Presbyterians could not agree with this action, on December 4, 1861 in the city of Augusta, “The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America” was organized.

In October, 1862, according to the meeting’s minutes, Harmony Presbytery met “with Weeping and Sorrow,” due to the deplorable state of the nation. The Presbytery took action against dueling, declaring it to be a form of murder. In April, 1863 , in view of the great religious needs of the army , Harmony Presbytery designated five of its ministers as chaplains. Rev. Charlton H. Wilson, a Son of Hopewell (son of Elder William T. Wilson) was among them.

Hopewell Cemetery records 38 Confederate Soldiers including five who died during the war; they are as follows; Capt. A. D. Gregg, “shot through the head in the battle of Chicamauga, September 19, 1863-thirty years old”, Samuel McFadden Gregg “fell near Knoxville, Tennessee,1863”; Alfred Dickson Gregg “died at Camp Chase, Ohio, May,
1865-twenty-four years old”, Robert Armstrong Harllee “died in camp at Manassas, Virginia”. Others with Confederate markers are James W. Campbell, J. Calhoun Campbell, Joseph E. McKnight, Richard Grandison Howard, Robert Leg are Singletary,
Gen. William Wallace Harllee, Edward P. Harlee, Anthony W. Ross, D.D.S., Alexander L.Armfield, J.S.Hutchinson, William J. Myers, James Richard Wilkinson, John S. Scott, J. Dewitt MCall, Lemuel Alsobrook McCall, William H. McCall, Honorine H. McClenaghan, George Strong McClenaghan, Thomas C. Gregg, Robert W. Gregg, John Godsden Gregg, Smilie Alexander Gregg, Walter Gregg, Wilds Gregg, A. Stuart Gregg, A. J. Gregg, Alexander McPherson Gregg, James P. Gregg, and Alexander Joezer Gregg.

WOMEN PLAYED A STRONG ROLE IN HISTORY AND WORK

Not much has been said or recorded concerning the role of women in the church for those first one hundred years. Most of their work was done at home in teaching Bible and Catechisms as well as Christian love. During the trying times of the 1860’s the Ladies’ Aid Society was organized. This organization came about when the women of the church heard of the “distress of our soldier boys” and realized that they must work and make the sacrifices that “our Lost Cause demanded”. This was the first Aid Society in South Carolina of which there is any record. It was not distinctly a church organization, but was organized and met there. This Ladies Aid Society included women from a large surrounding area: women of all denominations were joined in the work of shearing sheep, spinning, weaving, sewing and knitting. There was no Florence at that time and Hopewell was the great center in this wealthy section of the Pee Dee County.

The Charleston Mercury recorded a notice of this organization:

The Ladies of Hopewell and surrounding community met on
Wednesday 21st inst., and organized themselves into a Soldiers’
Aid Society. A constitution, previously drafted, was submitted
to the vote of the meeting, and, with a few amendments, unani-
mously adopted. After the adoption of the constitution , the
following ladies were chosen officers:
Mrs. Dr. HARLLEE, President
Mrs. Howard, )
Mrs. Dr. Harllee, )
Mrs. Dr. Gregg, ) Vice-Presidents.
Mrs. Wm. McCall, )
Miss M.J. Wilson, )
Mrs. Singletary, )
Mrs. Sallie Harllee, Corresponding Secretary .
Miss Eliza Johnson, Treasurer.
Miss E. A. Brown, Recording Secretary

About one hundred dollars were subscribed, and in part paid, to
purchase materials. The ladies of this community are all zealously
engaged—both the members of the Society and those who have not
yet found it convenient to join it –in preparing suitable clothing for
the soldiers.

(The Charleston Mercury, September 4, 1861)

Sheep were shorn for wool, and odd roots and flowers were brewed for dye. The meetings were held in the old session house by the church. For the wounded and sick Confederate soldiers passing through the area on the trains, some sixty-two volunteer workers, most of them women, established a soldiers’ hospital known as the “Wayside Home”. About sixty-four soldiers died there during the course of the war and were buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery. Their graves were marked by a Confederate monument in 1882, and when the Presbyterian Church sold the property in 1905 the bodies of these soldiers were moved to Mount Hope Cemetery.

Following the war in 1893, a need was felt for reorganizing the society. A lack of strength was felt in the Church so the women united to form a joint Ladies’ Aid and Missionary Society. This society was unique in the Church in that it was not formed by the older women, but the younger generation of women, those “just entering the duties of young womanhood”. The women met with Mrs. Ann P. Ross, wife of Dr. W. H. Ross. Mrs. Ross, Mrs. J. J. McCall, Miss Carrie Gregg, Miss Daisie Bethea, Miss M. Howard and Miss Loula Nissen were among its very first members. In 1906, it appears that more interest has been claimed by Mission work than formerly. In that year, the Ladies’ Aid Society and the Missionary Society “by mutual consent…again resolved themselves into two societies, and while foreign missions continued to be supported, missions closer to home were also found. Some examples were Columbia Seminary, Thornwell Orphanage, and needy families. Old records show that in 1935, one hundred quarts of fruits and vegetables were canned and sent to Thornwell.

Much of the early history of the women of Hopewell Church was recorded by Miss Amelia Howard, who served faithfully as secretary and treasurer of the Ladies Aid Society for at least fifteen years (records dated from 1906-1921).

Projects of the women of the Church of this period were devoted mainly to improving Church facilities. In order to raise money, one of the projects the ladies used for several years was a seasonal one. Begun in 1908, the ladies had a “Christmas window…which yielded gratifying results”. It was held in the store of Miss Mary McClenaghan, who was a former member of Hopewell Church. Oyster suppers, August picnics and ice cream festivals also seem to have been favorite projects for community gatherings.

The ladies of the Church had many ways of spending the money they made. In 1908, they spent $.20 and $.50 for lamp chimneys and wicks. In 1910, the ladies bought a clock, which, after following a number of years removal, was again hanging on its original nail on the east wall of the Church with it’s hour hand on 12:00 o’clock and it’s minute hand sitting on 12:05 P.M. Resetting the clock for a later time was a favorite trick, usually blamed on ministers, was quickly discovered and corrected. A restoration of the time piece was done 2007 and the clock quietly marks the time. In l912, pulpit chairs were purchased from the first Presbyterian Church in Florence when that church remodeled and three pieces of furniture for the manse were bought. By 1916, several more “favorite” projects had been added. The ladies were responsible for presenting a play, which gave their organization receipts of $7.10 and receipts from a ball game added $9.65.

In the same year, under the leadership of Mrs. F. L. Howard, it was recorded that: The society helped in furnishing a room in he Brearly house at Montreat, gave…to Goodland Indian orphans to the Ministerial Relief Fund. This was outside our own Church—The first time we have done anything to speak of but for ourselves: Lengthening our cords and strengthening our Stakes”.

The records of the Women of The Church for the years between 1921 and 1948 have been misplaced so little can be found about the activities and accomplishments of the women during those years. It is remembered by some of the ladies that meetings were held less frequently during the period of World War II and the Circles and Auxiliary held joint meetings on the first Wednesday of the every month in recognition of the shortage and subsequent rationing of gasoline. Also, it can be noted that women began meeting again, echoing the history of meetings eighty years earlier. These meetings, again to aid distressed soldiers, were the sites of knitting classes and bandage rolling.

Some of the projects which the ladies have joined together for in the years of misplaced record are barbeques, purchasing hymnals, vacation Bible schools, Homecoming celebrations and helping in Young peoples work. One of the most physically tiring projects was probably the annual spring cleaning when the ladies met for a good cleaning of the building and yards. In efforts to improve the grounds of the Church, grass and shrubbery were planted by the ladies. Dishes and silverware were purchased for the educational building and kitchen which also served as the social center.

One of the ladies largest projects was the raising of funds in the mid fifties to purchase the first electric organ. Many members remember being approached by Miss Dorothy McPherson for contributions towards this project as it was a project close to her heart. Her efforts were closely assisted by her sisters Harriet, and Ella McPherson McKnight. The organization of a choir, purchase of choir robes (1960) and cushions for pews (1969) were all projects led by the women.

It is interesting to note that in those years before all work done for the church was done by volunteers. The minister was the only paid servant of the church. Hopewell was blessed with musically educated ladies that shared their talents with anyone who asked. or were in need. Mrs. Jane Gregg Pearce is shown in the history book of Hopewell as the Church organist for many years even though the church is not known to have had an organ. We do know she was an accomplished musician and played the piano.

Miss. Lydia Rogers began her service as pianist in 1933 some months before she became Mrs. William R. Gregg, Jr. and continued in this service for more than sixty years. Following her retirement from the bench she continued in the choir until her mid nineties.

Mrs. John R. Gregg (Alice Tanner) married and moved into the community and the church in the late forties and her service as a musician began almost immediately. She and her sister-in-law, Lydia, shared the duties of playing the piano or organ for Sunday School, worship services, weddings, funerals and Vacation Bible Schools until they were joined by Mrs. Carolyn Lipscomb in 1966. Mrs. Alice Gregg served for a number of years as church treasurer and was the first woman Deacon elected in the early 1980’s. The choir was organized in 1960-61 with the help of Miss Vivian Clark, daughter of the Interim minister, Rev. Julius E. Clark. Mrs. Seab T. McPherson (Jean) served as first choir director until 1965 when Mrs. Carroll Enzor (Alberta) was named Director. In November 1996 Mrs. Lydia Gregg and Mrs. Carolyn Lipscomb, also known as Granny, were each given the “Medal of Hope” by a nationally aired television program Destination Hope. This program honored those who have brought joy, beauty and hope to others. They were chosen for the many years of musical talent they had provided to Hopewell and were featured on the nationally televised program in November 1966. Mrs. Enzor continued her choir directing and teaching untrained voices to sing long after her retirement as a public school English teacher. In 2004 she was honored with a page in the Church Directory giving homage to one who has served so long and faithfully. She retired from directing in 2006 however she continued to sing, with perfect pitch, in the choir until 2008.

As mentioned before Mrs. John R. (Alice) Gregg was the first elected Deacon of Hopewell. She was elected in the early 1980’s and served until the congregation elected to a system with Elders only.

Mrs. C. F. (Bernice) Rasey moved into the area in the early 1980’s from Iowa. Mrs. Rasey had been ordained as an Elder in her church and was the first elected woman Elder at Hopewell. In November 1991, Mrs. Seab T. (Jean) McPherson and Mrs. Clyde (Addie) Gregg were elected to serve as Elders and in December 1991 were the first women Elders to be ordained in this historic old church.

Women were, given an equal voice and vote in all affairs of the Church, except for holding offices as deacon and elder, a privilege which was bestowed in the early 80’s. An earlier lack of participation in all affairs if the church was not necessarily the fault of the men as the writer remembers going to a Women of The Church meeting in Hartsville about 1955 when the subject of women’s role in the church was discussed. The ladies drafted a state- ment to the Presbytery and Synod which stated that “while we recognize that God uses talents of all kinds from those who are called, both male and female it is our desire to be the power behind the thrown, rather than the power on the thrown”.

Someone has said that behind every great man you can find a woman supporting him and giving him encouragement. Others have said if you want to get a job done challenge the women of the Church. Both of these are true at Hopewell. She stands today in her greatness, beauty and grace; no one can deny the part the women have played.

1870 – 1970

For a hundred years Hopewell had served her people, her country and her God faithfully. Rev. D. E. Frierson who was serving as minister in 1871 was dismissed, at his request, from Pee Dee Presbytery to the South Carolina Presbytery. For two years Hopewell was supplied by Columbia Theological Seminary professors. Dr.