History of Stallsville

John and Charles Wesley, the Oxford University, English founders of Methodism first visited the Charleston area in 1736. The American Revolution (1775-1783) nearly wrecked the young and growing church. John Wesley was infuriated that the colonists were seeking independence. Since he was a loyalist, he felt that those in America should remain under English rule and his intentions were that the Methodist societies would operate within the Church of England also. Wesley wrote firey pamphlets in English upholding King George Ill. By 1778 seven Wesleyn missionaries fled to England, leaving behind only Francis Asbury sent here in 1771. This disturbed John Wesley greatly for he never intended a "new church" to be formed, as he continued to seek recognition of the Methodist lay preachers within the Church of England. From Bristol on September 10, 1784, J. Wesley addressed the brethren in American in written form and sent Dr. Thomas Coke and Richard Whatcoat to America with his address and orders to ordain Francis Asbury as joint superintendent with Dr. Coke. This ordination occurred at Barretts Chapel in Delaware. Francis Asbury was elected Bishop and the Methodist Episcopal Church (USA) was born at the Christmas Conference 1784, Lovely Lane Chapel, Baltimore, Maryland. At George Washington's Presidental inauguration in 1787, Bishop Asbury and his assistant, Thomas Coke, presented the Chief of State with a pledge of allegiance from the Methodists; thus becoming the first organized church to promise support to the new nation.

In February 1785, Bishop Asbury introduced Methodism to the Charleston area, and preached the final sermon of that two week visit on March 2,1785. He departed Charleston on March 10,1785. Charleston was represented at the conference held in Baltimore in 1785.

The first Methodist Disciple was published after the conference in 1784 and has been updated and revised every four years since then at the General Conference. In 1984 all of American Methodism will celebrate the bicentennial of its founding. Plans are for a year of stewardship during which we will recall our theological origins, revitalize our faith pilgrimage and renew our missional commitment.

In 1844 a split of the church over the slavery issue, initiated by the "Abolitionist" movement divided the church into the Northern and Southern churches. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was formed in 1945. This division was not resolved until 1939, after the depression had revealed that the division and differences were unchristian and interfering with the traditional concern for the poor and underpriviledged. At that time they became The Methodist Church. In 1969 that church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to become the United Methodist Church.

In 1857, the Summerville Methodist Episcopal Church, South, (now Bethany United Methodist Church) was established. It was one of the eleven churches in the Cypress Circuit which survived a violent hurricane on August 25,1885, and a severe earthquake on August 31,1886, both of which caused extensive damage in Summerville. The first mention of the organization of a church in the village of Stallsville is contained in the second quarterly report of the Summerville Charge, Charleston District, on April 17,1887. This report contained information of four officers and teachers and twenty-one scholars attending at homes in the area.

On July 24,1887, Andrew Green was granted license to preach at Stallsville. The fourth quarterly conference on November 23, 1887, named H. A. Jamison as an elected Steward for Stallsville. That same report mentioned the on-going erection of a small building at Stallsville.

Stallsville Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was built on land donated by Mr. Le Bleau from timber cut from the H. A. Jamison property. Dr. Charles U. Shepard, owner of an experimental tea farm, provided financial assistance.

The original building was expanded in the 1950's and stained glass windows installed. In 1961 a small parsonage was completed in anticipation of the church becoming a "Station" church with a full-time minister assigned in June 1961. Shortly thereafter, a new Allen organ was purchased, the Lott property at the rear of the Hut was purchased, and an easement obtained from Richard Thompson, which gave full access to the church property.

In 1972 the need for an educational building was addressed, and a building committee formed. In 1975, a ground breaking ceremony for the building, dedicated to Mr. Alan R. Hilton was held. The building was completed and occupied in 1976.

The Stallsville UMC Day Care Center became operational in October 1980 in the Annex (former parsonage). It rapidly outgrew those limited facilities and now occupies the entire Hilton Building during the day Monday through Friday.

Meanwhile, the need for another very essential expansion of the sanctuary manifested itself. A study committee was appointed in 1982. After reporting its findings, a Building Committee was authorized by Church Conference on February 13, 1983. This committee was authorized to proceed with the planned expansion by the Church Conference on August 14, 1983. The offices of the pastor, church secretary, and Director of Christian Education were relocated to the Annex (former parsonage) and the Library and Choir Room to the Hut, in order that the total sanctuary building may be used for worship services. A work party cleared the sanctuary on October 2, 1983, so that the contractor could begin work on the following day. The expanded sanctuary, with thirty additional pews will again be available for worship services by November 27, 1983, which is the first Sunday of Advent, 1983.

Each of the moves, changes and expansions reflect the dynamic growth pattern in membership and attendance at Stallsville as well as its spiritual place in the community. Of particular note is the increase in children, youth and young adults who are actively and enthusiastically involved in the numerous activities and leadership of the Church.

Stallsville is truly reflecting the Weslayan belief: "Methodists do not insist on your holding this or that opinion, but they think and let think," and as Wesley often said, "If your heart is with my heart, give me your hand."

~Anne M. States