New Light Beulah Baptist Church
HISTORY
Established 1806 ~ Renamed 1870 ~ Relocated 1873 and 1982
In 1870, on the west side of Cedar Creek in Congaree, South Carolina, a group of zealous men,
Women, former slaves, assembled under a brush arbor for the purpose of organizing a church.
The organizers, one-time members of Beulah Baptist Church on the east side of Cedar Creek,
agreed to be known as New Light Beulah Baptist Church. Both churches trace their heritage to
the Congaree Baptist Church…
About 1800, when the Congaree Baptist Church moved its place of worship twelve miles
southward to its present location on Tom’s Creek in the old neighborhood were left without a
church. Some members began to meet in the Minerva Academy, and in 1806, organized a
branch church with thirty-one black and nine white members. The black members were
slaves of wealthy Lower Richland planters.
In their application for admission into the Charleston Association, it was noted that the
congregation adopted the name “Beaula (Beulah) that we may have a name whereby we may
be known and distinguished as our brethren of the same faith.” The application listed the
following persons as charter members of Beulah Baptist Church: (white) Isaac Raiford, George
Scott, Isaac Tucker, Isaac Price, Sarah Reese, Mary Strange, Mary Howell, Margaret Chappell,
Rebecca Scott. (Black) Raiford’s Gambo, Jacob, Dinah, Peggy; J. Adams’ John, Jack, Rachel,
Sarah; R. Hail’s Peter, Satirah, Binah; John Pierce’s Jack; Estate of James Taylor’s Miley, Bet,
Jenny; B. Waring’s Sancho, Dinah; R. Howell’s Humprey; S. Roach’s Jose; T. J. Howell’s Monday;
W. R. Tucker’s Gambo; W. Fitzpatrick’s Phyllis; T. Taylor’s Suckey, Eve; Robert Stark’s Clarissa,
Shamony; W. Taylor’s Ishmael; Wade’s Tangy; V. Center’s Nancy; Green’s Aggy; John Hart’s
Miley; Estate of W. Howell’s Jack.
For the first seventy-five years, there existed a great disparity in numbers between black and
white members. For example, in 1841, Beulah reported 209 black and 13 white members; in
1845, 252 black and 14 white members; in 1853, 202 black and 18 white members, and in
1860, 294 black and 187 white members.
Despite their numerical advantage, black members were never in control of church affairs.
Except for baptismal services “at waterside”, blacks and whites did not worship together until
1829, when the new building on Cedar Creek was partially completed. Black members then
sat in the gallery, supervised by appointed leaders. Church minutes and reports to the
Charleston Association reveal that blacks and whites attended separate Sunday Schools and
revival meetings. These reports also indicate that black members attended meetings
faithfully and supported the church financially. In October, 1860, Beulah reported to the
Charleston Association that there were “flourishing Sunday Schools, both white and colored.”
The church sent $14.00, “seven from colored members” to be applied to Home Missions.
The church seems to have made an effort to provide for the spiritual training of black
members. Church minutes dated March 12, 1826 state that “two of Joel Adams’ servants
William and Primer “to act as Deacons amongst the black persons.” In 1849, the minutes
state that “Bros. Vincent and Smith meet the colored people every Sabbath when there is no
preaching and instruct them in the scriptures.”
Other evidence of their effort to provide “spiritual training and enlightenment” for black
members is that black members were divided into groups and certain leaders appointed to
supervise each group. They were to visit members at least once during the month, inquire
into their progress and standing, pray with them, admonish them, instruct them, encourage
them to be punctual and generally oversee the conduct of their group members. These
leaders were to make a monthly report to the pastor. These “reports” probably account for
the fact that at almost every business session, a number of black members were examined
by the church and excommunicated or suspended for “sins” allegedly committed in the slave
community.
Some black preachers, too, contributed to the spiritual well-being of black members,
although they were not authorized by the church. On July 28, 1833, the church took up the
matter of two black male members that were going about preaching without permission
from the church – “Ned, belonging to the estate of John Hopkins, deceased, and Peter
belonging to M. David Hopkins.” They were to be cited to appear before the church for
examination on the fourth Sunday in August of that year. of the statement in the minutes are
not legible, but it is clear that the church decided to “let them remain in a silenced state”
until all who were preaching could be examined by the church. The concern about
“unauthorized” black preachers could have been prompted by the memory that just two
years before, on August 23, 1831, Nat Turner – a very religious man who believed that God
had chosen him to lead his people to freedom – had led a revolt that frightened people of
the South and made them suspicious of all black preachers.
But harmony prevailed in Beulah Baptist Church until the Confederate War ended and the
slaves were freed. Then tensions and animosity arose among black and white members.
According to the WPA Inventory of Church Archives, Blacks took control of the building and
held it until 1870 or 1871 when Jesse Adams, a white member, secretly moved his family into
the Church during the week, and on the following Sunday, met black members at the door
with a shotgun, daring them to enter his “dwelling.” Beulah Baptist Church minutes state
that “the small congregation became dispersed, several of the members removing to distant
homes, and the building being about to be occupied by Negroes, politically and socially, the
enemies of the whites, Mr. Jesse Adams, whose fortune was reversed in common with most
of our citizens, moved into the church and occupied it as a home until March, 1879.”
On the fourth Sunday in May, 1879, “a motion was made and unanimously carried that the
clerk write Mr. Adams a note, thanking him for so promptly vacating the church on request
and also for preserving it during the long suspension of services, from falling into the hands
of aliens and enemies.”
By 1871, the majority of the “enemies and aliens” had abandoned their fight to regain
control of Beulah Baptist Church and had moved over to the west side of Cedar Creek to
establish their own church – The New Light Beulah Baptist Church.
There is no preserved record of the actual organization of the church in 1870. However,
several senior citizens in the church community recall bits of information passed on to them
by their parents, grandparents or other family members.
It is said that the congregation met under a “brush arbor” for Sunday worship, and that
baptismal services were held at Cedar Creek. On certain nights during the week, members
would meet in homes, called “duty houses” for prayer and fellowship. Each group had an
appointed leader who presided over the meetings.
Apparently, all went well until 1885, when an undetermined number of members withdrew
from New Light Beulah Baptist church and organized Siloam Baptist Church.
Two possible reasons for the split in 1855 have been put forward: One is that a serious
disagreement between two deacons, each with a following, led to the separation; the other
is that the pastor voted democratic rather than republican, and that some members, upset
by his failure to support the party of Abraham Lincoln, the emancipator, left the church and
established Siloam. Although there is no concrete evidence to support either notion
concerning the reason for the separation, it is interesting to note that the name of the
deacon recalled as the one leading the dissident group at Beulah is engraved on the
cornerstone of Siloam Baptist Church.
The next year, Beulah purchased two acres of land from Glen A. and John J. Karrimer at a cost
of $25.00. Trustees signing the deed on December 23, 1886 were Abram Weston, Jacob
Golman, Pompey Smith, Thomas Stocker, Warrick Howell, Hamilton Jamison, and Julius
Goodwin. There is a stipulation that the land be used only for the purpose of erecting either
a church or educational building. It is believed that the first permanent building was
constructed after the purchase of the property, probably sometime in 1887.
The church building was used not only for worship, but also as a school, Deacon David Ward
and his sisters and brothers attended school at Beulah Baptist Church. In 1902, when
Deacon Ward was eight years old, the Board of Education constructed a two-story school
building adjacent to the church. Odd Fellows, and perhaps other lodges, held meetings on
the top floor. After several years of operation, a school was built at Siloam Church and
Beulah students were transferred to Siloam.
standing until the 1930’s.
The school building at Beulah remained
The Reverend Andrew Richbourg was the first known pastor of New Light Beulah Baptist
Church. He was not the first, however, since – according to the United States Census reports
for 1880 and 1900 – he was only ten years old in 1870. The first pastor could have been
Charles May, W. M. Adams or W. A. Adams, three ex-slaves ordained in 1865 by Dr. L. H.
Reynolds, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, “to minister to the freed slaves.” The date of his
call to the pastorate has not been ascertained, but it is known that Andrew Richbourg closed
his pastorate at Beulah in 1865 to assume duties at another church. He was considered to be
one of the leading ministers of his day and was highly respected by both laymen and
clergymen.
Under the leadership of pastors in years to follow, the church grew spiritually and
numerically. Some members like to reminisce about the early years: The procession of
horses and wagons and pedestrians on the road leading to Beulah; the noisy horses waiting
restlessly on the church grounds; the lively picnics on the church grounds with big baskets of
fried chicken, cakes, pies and other goodies spread for all to enjoy; young girls stopping along
the way at a friend’s house to change in their “shiny” Sunday shoes, or leaving their old ones
behind bushes near the church so that they could complete the journey to Beulah “in style.”
They also remember the girls dressing in Beulah School and the boys dressing in the church
for baptism in Cedar Creek; walking home in the moonlight after revival meetings, and
attending Wateree Association meetings, where, under the big tents, one could purchase
delicious foods and beverages, and socialize with friends.
But there was also tragedy. In 1916, a fire, caused by
a fallen stove pipe, consumed the church. Until it was
rebuilt in 1917, the congregation met in Beulah School.
The church continued to progress. The outside of the
church was renovated, and a baptismal pool installed
in 1949, ending baptisms in Cedar Creek.
Over the years the church continued to flourish and voted to relocate. In 1978, the
congregation purchased six acres, the site on which the present building stands. During this
time, the congregation began holding services every Sunday and began construction on the
new edifice.
Sunday, May 23, 1982 was a memorable day for
the congregation of New Light Beulah Baptist
Church. On that Sunday, Women’s Day,
members proudly entered their new building,
debt-free and valued at more than $170,000.00.
The congregation at that time was numbered at
four hundred. Since moving into the building,
numerous ministries were initiated. Those
ministries included orientation and disciple making classes, a bus service, Child Development
Center, meals on wheels, clothing bank, athletic league, tutorial program, and the family
ministry.
Other additions to the church included an additional 4500 square foot educational wing to
house the Child Development Center and Sunday School Department. This addition was
dedicated on September 10, 1989. The church also completed its parking lot in September
of 1990. At that time, the value of all church property exceeded $500,000.00.
Today, members of New Light Beulah Baptist Church, proud of their heritage and tradition,
pledge, as did their ancestors 112 years ago, to work unfailingly to bring the kingdom of God
to the hearts of men.
Excerpted from An Historical Sketch of New Light Beulah Baptist Church, April 1983. Contributors
listed as Reverend J. Thompson - pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Deacon David Ward, Mrs. Maggie
Hayes, Mrs. Sarah Hopkins, Dr. W. H. Neal, Mrs. Margaret Hampton, Deacon English Hopkins, Deacon
John Middleton, Jr., Deacon Joe Ned Davis, Mrs. James Taylor, Deacons Jesse Johnson, Sr. and Jesse
Johnson, Jr. of St James Baptist Church, Reverend L. H. Robinson - pastor of Red Hill Baptist Church,
Dr. and Mrs. Lincoln C. Jenkins, Sr., Mrs. Nan Robinson, Deacon Christian Robinson, Deacon E. H. Epps
of Union Baptist Church, Dr. Carl Stokes of South Caroliniana library, Mrs. Thelma Rogers Registrar of
Benedict College, Officials of Siloam Baptist Church, the South Carolina Baptist Education and
Missionary Convention of Morris College and chaired by Mrs. Hilda Black David.