Sion Presbyterian Church, USA

 

Sion Presbyterian Church History

as told by Elizabeth Ann Mayes Harden

 

The history of Sion Presbyterian is as old as the American War for Independence. As the Liberty Bell rang for freedom and justice, Sion’s bell rang from the first church building calling the people to worship.

 

Sion’s bell is now housed in a bell tower in the side yard of the present church. After nearly sixty years of storage under the church building, Sion’s  iron bell still rings. It’s pealing calls people to come to church.

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Attendance at church was important to the Scotch-Irish settlers who came to Fairfield County. They were hard-working, democratic, and disciplined. They brought with them their faith, King James Bible and the teachings of John Knox and John Calvin. These people showed a burning desire for education. Schools and churches were close together. Presbyterian authorities insisted on an educated ministry.

 

In the 1700s,  Presbyterians met to worship in the Mount Zion college and court house. They were known as the Mount Zion Congregation. It was incorporated by the legislature in March 27,1787. As the congregation grew, it is assumed that the elders looked to the Bible to give the church a name that was similar but different from Mount Zion. In the Bible, Zion was the hill on which the temple stood. In 1897, the spelling, Sion was legalized.

 

Wanting their own special place of worship the people began their first church building on Garden Street, which was completed in 1811.  The building was brick and pictures show the details of its outside Structure. Now the entire property is used as the church cemetery.

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Old timers remember the sound of the church bell, an oaken bucket with two dippers in it, two velvet money collection bags on the end of a pole, two silver communion goblets and an old reed pump organ.

 

Due to the unsafe walls of the first church, the need for a new church building was imperative. The present and second church building was launched. The women supplied energy and money. The men went into meetings that met the challenge.   J.T. Dabbs was employed as contractor and J.H. Sams was hired as architect.

 

The present building is brick of colonial design with columns in the front.  It was intention that the inside sanctuary be kept simple with no icons or symbols as was Calvin’s teachings. It was planned with a center aisle, pulpit in the middle with the open Bible as the focal point. The pulpit chairs and an oval marble top communion table are the only connecting links of the old church with the new. The church was equipped with an excellent Moellar pipe organ. Later the organ was upgraded by an organ builder from Ohio, Charles Kegg. At this time the pipes were polished and keyboard was moved to the side of the choir loft.     

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With a sense of purpose, Sion added a Fellowship Hall which included more class room space, kitchen, library, and auditorium. This was completed in 1951 debt free.

 

The history of Sion would not be complete without the mention of the Women of the Church. The following sketch was prepared by Mrs. Margaret Dunlap Hagood.

 

  We are humbly proud of our pioneer women in Sion Church

and deeply grateful to them for laying the solid foundation

                                                              upon which we have grown.

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In the beginning, the women took the admonition that they should keep silent in the church. They were active but did not let cultural norms restrict their service to the Lord. They taught children’s classes. They “pounded and gifted” the pastors, cleaned the church, and kept the grounds. It was the women who led Sion into seeing the need for the present church building.

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Traditions changed which allowed the recognition of leadership of women within the church. They are known today as the Presbyterian Women. They have their own small group Bible study, budget and benevolent causes.  A turning point came when women were elected as officers.  In 1977, the Session directed that a list of women eligible for Election be prepared. In 1978, Miss Barbara Gayden Wright was elected to the Board of Deacons, Class of 1981. She was the first female church officer. In 1985, the congregation elected the first female elder, Mrs.Walter (Tan) Brown.  Today, men and women serve side by side without regard to gender. Sion has called two female pastors, The Reverend Karen Newsome and The Reverend Rebekah Carpenter (2018 - present).

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Sion is a church that has a vision for missions. Miss Charlotte Dunlap was a medical missionary in China for 37 years. Outreach chapels, and later churches at Mr. Olivet, Concord, Union Memorial, and Lake Wateree were home missions. Missions continue with a “Corner for Caring” which supplies much needed food items for the local food bank. Working with Samaritan’s Purse boxes of gifts to children are prepared to send all over the world at Christmas through Operation Christmas Child. Thornwell Home for Children and Presbyterian Communities of S. C. for the elderly have always been a part of our special benevolent offerings. 

 

The church has benefited through the years from capable Sunday school teachers. The spirituality of members has grown with each new pastor as they explore the meaning of Christianity. Today Sion is a congregation of faithful, sincere, dedicated group of Christians.

 

Our mission statement says, Sion Presbyterian, “Encouraging genuine  disciples who honor God by nurturing Christian fellowship.”

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