Cedar Springs Church – Abbeville County, South Carolina
South Carolina | SC Picture Project | Abbeville County Photos | Cedar Springs Church
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The Cedar Springs Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a part of the Cedar Springs Historic District located in Abbeville County.
Cedar Springs Church was formerly organized between 1779 and 1780 by Dr. Thomas Clark, a seminal leader of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. For many years, the church shared a pastorate with Lower Long Cane A.R.P. Church. The Cedar Springs farming community was prosperous during this time, and the churches had a congregation of 500 members between them.
Abbeville County was once considered part of South Carolina‘s frontier, and many settlers came here seeking new fortunes. In turn, the opening of our country’s western territories, from the 1820s to the 1830s, lured many Abbeville families away.
Still, many families remained in Cedar Springs and became Confederate soldiers and officers. Unfortunately, nearly half of Abbeville County’s male population was killed during the war. This had far-reaching implications as families and farms struggled to survive during the Reconstruction.
The Great Depression devastated those local farms that survived Reconstruction. The passage of time has allowed the Sumter National Forest to swallow up many traces of Abbeville and McCormick County‘s rich farming heritage.
Special thanks to Mark Clark, an Abbeville native who currently resides in Winnsboro, for providing much of this historical information. Mark aptly notes that “the survival of both the Cedar Springs and Lower Long Cane churches speak to how fleeting wealth can be.”
Mark attended a service at Cedar Springs Church in May 2011 and says, “The church is air-conditioned and even features a small elevator to allow the disabled to move between the sanctuary and fellowship hall. The sanctuary itself is quite cozy and pure, being devoid of stained-glass windows. The former slave balcony in the rear of the sanctuary has been closed in and converted to three small Sunday school classrooms. It wasn’t until halfway through the service that I realized Dr. Loyd Melton (the pastor) wasn’t using a microphone of any kind. The acoustics in the sanctuary are perfect! The untouched purity of the sanctuary left quite a favorable impression on me.”
4 Comments about Cedar Springs Church
April 23rd, 2013 at 2:31 pm
Tracing my grandmother’s Craig family back to Abbeville, I evidently have as forebears “Ebenezer” (b.1802), his father (Samuel M., b.1773), Samuel’s father James, Jr. (b. abt. 1745, and then researchers’ confusion as to James’ parents and origin (Ireland? Scotland?). Little to no doubt here as to a Cedar Springs Church linkage … Samuel’s 10th & last child was named Alexander Porter Craig. Any chance you know of a record of my Craig line coming across the Atlantic, 1764, with Dr. Thomas Clark, from Reddrum Strenboden, near Ballybay, Ire.? Thank you for considering this.
February 6th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
I know someone who was baptized at Cedar Springs about 1964. Do they still have special baptisms on occasion even now? I would like to contact someone the verify the date if possible.
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Gay,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you on this. Your best source is probably church records. The ARP church maintained extensive records on its members and their families during the historical period you mention.
The best source for this information is probably “The Due West Telescope,” which was published from 1843-1863. Erskine College in Due West, SC has these in Microfilm form that can be copied for a fee. The USC library in Columbia also has a few copies, but not quite as extensive as the Erskine library.
Hope this helps,
Mark
May 31st, 2011 at 2:25 pm
I am looking for info regarding Mathew McDonald from Cedar Springs. He and his son William Thomas were Confederate Vets. Mathew (1820-1876) is buried in Upper Long Cane Cemetery. Thank you!
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