Old Ebenezer Church
National Register Listing
Street Address:
5 mi. S of Latta on SC 38, Latta, SC City Vicinity (Marion County)
Alternate Name:
Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817734011
Description and Narrative:
(Ebenezer Methodist Church) Old Ebenezer Church is basically the simple, pragmatic meeting house style church with two entrances on the main façade, corresponding doors on the rear façade, and a gable roof. However, the builder chose to add refinements to the basic plan: cornices and pilasters indicate the influence of the classical revival idiom. Built in 1856, this one story rectangular church has a surface of white clapboard. Old Ebenezer rests on low pillars of handmade brick which provide an open basement of about three or four feet. Between the three pillars of the main façade are two wooden stairways, each with six risers. The matching side facades are the width of five bays with windows identical to those of the front façade. The heritage of Old Ebenezer Church is found in the history of Methodism. In opposition to the Anglican practice of identifying a clergyman with a certain church, Methodists advocated itinerant preaching, known as “riding circuit.” This practice, particularly successful in late 18th century rural America, was led by Francis Asbury. Church members accept Asbury’s journal entry of March 15, 1787, which referred to a meeting held in the immediate vicinity, as referring to the origins of their church. The present church was built in 1856 and supervised by William Dillon, a local businessman and builder, while the manual craftsmanship was the work of slave artisans. A slave gallery, which was later removed, corroborates the pre-Civil War construction date. Listed in the National Register March 10, 1973.
Period of Significance:
1856
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Architecture;Politics/Government
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
March 30 1973
