St. Stephens United Methodist Church
St. Stephens UMC
204 West Jackson Street Dillon, SC 29536 (843)-774-5541 |
St. Stephens had its beginning before 1888 when a group of devout Christians under the leadership of Rev. G. W. Cooper erected the first church at the end of First Avenue in a pine grove. This church was Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal.
In 1895 a new church building was erected in a new location and was renamed St. Stephens Methodist Episcopal Church. This church remained strong as Methodist Episcopal for 119 years. Meanwhile, several ministers served St. Stephens M.E. church. In 1957, Rev. J.W. Robinson came to St. Stephens M.E., and under his leadership, construction of a new building began in August 1958, and was completed in the spring of 1959. Today we are yet worshipping with that same structure. Although funding was not plentiful, the members (families and individuals) came together and donated all the necessary accessories to complete the church from the pulpit lectern, the altar, the bibles, pews, carpet, to the public address systems and more. More important, was the desire and willingness of the church family to create a new house of worship for God's people and to witness God's love for all persons. In 1972, St. Stephens and other local Methodist Episcopal churches merged with the predominately Anglo conference of South Carolina becoming united as one church and St. Stephens was renamed St. Stephens United Methodist Church. Since that merger, St. Stephens has continued in its endeavors to grow and enhance the sanctuary and its surrounding parts with intermittent renovations under the leadership of several new ministers. In 1986 under the leadership of Rev. Calvin Harris, St. Stephens had its first Homecoming celebration. Today we continue that celebration and the legacy of edifice improvements under the leadership of Rev. Barry McFadden. |