Thursday, April 28, 2016

Those Places Thursday~Midway Presbyterian Church


The Midway Presbyterian Church in New Zion, Clarendon, South Carolina was named because of its location, halfway between churches in Sumter and Williamsburg Districts. The congregation began meeting about 1801.Work started on the original log building in 1802 and was officially organized in 1804.The church seen now was built in 1850. It was moved back 100 feet from the road in 1939 and remodeled. 
   
From 
The Register of Session Minutes of Midway Presbyterian Church Clarendon County, South Carolina 1801-1902 by Lois Anne Warren-Daniels, Linda J. Warren & Dianne C. Warren, 2002, pg. 1 
  " Sept. 20th 1801
       Nine men of the inhabitants of Bull Savanna & Pudding Swamp met a the house of Mrs. Mary Conyers in order to form a church & raise a salary for a minister one fourth of his time.
  Sept. 2nd 1802
    The congregation employed Wm. McIntosh & Saml. Fleming to build a church for one hundred & eighty dollars. Nov 10th 1802 the house was raised & called Midway because it was built half way between Williamsburg & Salem Church & members from those two churches aided in the building, a house of worship & support of the gospel. 
  January 10th 1803
   The Rev. G.G. McWorter preached his first sermon in Midway Church.
 October 22nd 1803
 The house was completed & rec'd by the Building Committee.
 In the year 1804 the church was organized."                          
                 
                  
Historical Marker
Midway Presbyterian Church
New Zion, Clarendon, South Carolina

 Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Flemming Hudson (1835-1916), my Great Great Grandmother, attended Midway Church.
  
Midway Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
The Register of Session Minutes records on page 119: "January 17th 1902
  Session met-opened with prayer. Present Rev. James McDowell, R.E. McFadden and R.W. Wheeler, elders at the house of Mr. R.S. Flemming. Mr. Henry While Flemming was examined and received as a member of the church. Also Mrs. Sarah R. Hudson by examination and received."

The Register of Communicants published in the same book on pg. 119 shows that Mrs. Sarah R. Fleming was admitted to the church 26 April 1857 by examination. She was dismissed [date not given] because she had united with the Baptist Church. 

 Sarah was admitted to the church most likely after her marriage to James E. Fleming (1831-[?]). She was widowed and then married Ezra Ashby Hudson (1821-1882). Her admittance back into the Midway Presbyterian Church in 1902 may have been because her daughter Ila O. (Hudson) Flemming (1877-1939) and son-in-law Lewis Patrick Flemming (1873-1953) were married there and were members. Son, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961), my Great Grandfather was admitted 18 May 1902.
 The records also indicate that Sarah and James Flemming's children were baptized at Midway and that her mother, Martha Julia (Epps) Smith (1808-1854) my 3rd Great Grandmother, also joined.
   Register of Communicants pg. 129:
 Mrs. Martha Smith Admission: 17 Jan 1852, by Examination, died July 1854, Wife of H.J. Smith. 
   Many other members of the family were involved in the Midway Presbyterian Church. Some of the surnames in the records include Epps, Frierson, Fleming, and Smith.

Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Fleming Hudson
(1835-1916)
Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Flemming Hudson died 9 March 1916 of influenza. Her death is recorded in the Register of Deaths, pg. 144. She was buried in the church's cemetery.
  Daughter Ila and son-in-law James were also buried there.

Ila O. (Hudson) Flemming (1877-1939)
and husband
Lewis Patrick Flemming (1873-1953)
©Cheri Hudson Passey

               
Double Marker
Lewis P. Flemming
and
Ila O. Hudson Flemming
Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery
                     
 Midway Presbyterian Church was and still is an important part of the Clarendon County community of New Zion. 
 My family worshiped here. Did yours?

Are we kin? Please contact me. Together we can find our people.
Thanks so much for stopping by!



   

 
 

10 comments:

  1. The churches certainly were at the center of so much of their lives. I love that you have pictures, the church minutes and pictures of their graves all there at that church. I wish mine had been there with yours!

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  2. I love reading about these church histories and you filled it in with some family history. Lovely !

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    1. Thanks, Magda! Wish I could find more church histories. You are right, they are fun! Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment!

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    2. Thanks, Magda! Wish I could find more church histories. You are right, they are fun! Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment!

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  3. Michelle,it would be so much fun to find that our ancestors knew each other! Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment!

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  4. In days past that church was very much the center for your family. And, now, where do you find your family? In the church (records). A wonderful post, Cheri.

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    1. Thanks, Coleen. It's true, the church was always such a hub of family life for our ancestors. Just wish I could find such great records for my other lines! I appreciate you taking the time to read my post and leave a comment!

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  5. Cheri, Lewis Patrick Flemming was my great uncle. His sister, Minnie Edith Flemming was my grandmother. Minnie married John Henry DuBose of New Zion.

    Allison DuBose

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  6. My Grandparents, John J. Epps and Italine Tomlinson Epps, GGrandparents, William Stephen Epps, and GGGparents, James Epps were members and buried there. I have several uncles and aunts buried there. I spent many memorable summers with my Grandparents and attended Midway in the 1950s. My mother, Mae Epps Morris, the oldest of twelve children, was a teacher and attended Clemson during the summer. I now live in Pendleton, SC, and seventy five years old.

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    1. Wonderful! I am sure we are connected somewhere! Thanks for your comment!

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