Union Cemetery

An old cemetery and abandoned church building was brought to my attention by my friend, Jewell, as I talked to her about finding some local historical spots.

Only five minutes from the house, I was unimpressed by the bland, block building. A rectangular building with few windows, and oddly, only three sides painted. I pushed on the door but could only open it partially, as it was blocked by carpeting that has come loose. Inside I could see rows of pews, a small piano at the front, and artificial flowers still sitting on the alter.

A corner stone on the building noted that it was built in the 1970's but that the church was organized in the late 1800's. I walked across the street to the mostly unkept cemetery. This is really what I wanted to see.

The Union United Methodist cemetery is a black cemetery and has been used into the 1980's from what I could tell. Toward the back, into the woods, I started to see many un-labeled graves. These are graves marked only with a stone sticking up from the ground. In a few areas, I moved some debris and found a stone marked only with initials. One of the more interesting stones was a hand carved one in the back. It is hard to read, but tells that Cota died on June 2, 1888.

The mis-spelled, hand carved stone is one I don't see often in old cemeteries but had seen before. It normally belongs to a poor, or uneducated black church from that era.

Initially, it was hard to find some history on this spot, but I did get a bit of information on its early history from the Pickens Sentinel newspaper dated October 18, 1871.

Union United Methodist Church, located three miles north of Liberty on
Campground Road, had its beginning in 1870 at a brush arbor on its present site.
A deed was recorded on November20, 1872, from William Banks to the trustees of
the Methodist Episcopal Church "where on stands a house of worship." Members and
friends of the community would gather once per year for a week of camping and
church services. The activities ended on a Sunday with Camp Meeting which lasted
all day.

The Colored Camp Meeting. The greatest camp meeting that ever has been witnessed
in Pickens County, among the colored people, was held at Union Church,
commencing the 4th inst. and ending the 80r. The meeting was conducted by order
of Rev. R. A. Fletcher. Those who labored with him were Rev. George Gray, Rev.
Patrick Fair, and also Simmons and Goodlett. The result was that 101 members
took sacrament. 8 were baptized l3 received into full fellowship and 2l on
probation, making, in all 34 additions to the church, and there were also 18
conversions. The meeting was well attended. Mr. A.M. Folger was present, with
his Bibles for sale. The pulpit was occupied on Sunday by Rev. R.A. Fletcher.
The order of the meeting was excellent. The meeting closed on Monday at l0
o'clock. After the benediction was pronounced, all went home, rejoicing in
the Lord for their successful camp meeting at Union. (Pickens Sentinel l8 Oct
1871, p. 2, col. 3)

The present church structure, erected in 1973 under the pastoral leadership of
John L. Pendarvis and Julius L. Scipio, replaced a building that had lasted for
more than half a century.

The membership of fifteen persons are descendents of families associated with
the history of the church. The Julius Thayer Family, the Frank Thayer Family,
the Bright Hunter Family, the Ervin McDowell Family, the Rhone Family, the Riley
Ferguson Family are representative of the membership throughout in the history
of the congregation.

Being on the same Methodist charge, Union Camp Ground and Robinson Chapel
always shared pastors. Known in the beginning as Union Camp Ground, later as
Union Methodist Episcopal Church, the church is today known as Union United
Methodist Church.

Contributed by: Anne Sheriff

After a few emails, I was also given a name to a local pastor that may have some additional information on this church. As I continue my mission to learn the history, I'll share any interesting bits I come across. It turns out that this seemingly unimpressive building has an impressive history.