Pompion Hill Chapel is not only listed in the National Historic Register, which calls it a “miniature Georgian masterpiece,” but it has the added distinction of being a National Historic Landmark.

Pompion Hill Chapel is named for the bluff on which it stands, which overlooks the Cooper River. Interestingly, the name of this church is sometimes pronounced “Pumpkin,” even today. Berkeley County was settled largely by Huguenots, and pompion is an old French word for Pumpkin. A contemporary wedding record also lists this location as Ponkin.

SCIWAY sends special thanks to Joseph Baker of Summerville, who took these pictures in 2010. Here is a wonderful little video showing how beautiful Pompion Hill Chapel is inside and out!

The current building, pictured here, was consecrated January 13, 1882 after the first structure was destroyed by a cyclone in 1879.

SCIWAY thanks Steven Taylor of Walterboro for this information and lovely shot taken in July 2012.

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.”

SCIWAY thanks E. Karl Braun of North Charleston for this picture taken in July 2012.

Learn more about the history of St Matthews Lutheran Church.

SCIWAY thanks Andy Hunter of Denmark for this information and great picture taken in August 2012.

Click here for more information about Holland McTyeire and Bamberg County history.

Fred Symmes gave the chapel to the YMCA so that its campers could enjoy its beautiful view all summer long. Camp Greenville spans 1,600 acres and serves as a summer camp, conference center, and environmental education facility. Symmes Chapel is a popular wedding venue and worship site, and visitors are welcome except when it is in use for events. It is strongly advised to call ahead and check the schedule before planning a visit! Visit the Pretty Place webpage to find news and events going on at the chapel.

SCIWAY thanks frequent contributor Larry Gleason of Aiken for these great pictures!

Special thanks to photographer Vanessa Kauffmann — you can purchase this photo and others on Vanessa’s website.

SCIWAY thanks Steven Faucette of Williamston for these pictures he took in 2012.

For more information, please visit the church’s website.

SCIWAY thanks Sandy Dimke of Beaufort for sharing this photo she took in 2011.