Our Church
The presence of the Episcopal Church in Bennettsville can be traced to the early 1800’s as a few members of St. David’s Parish, Cheraw, began to move into the area. Probably the first bishop to visit the area was the Rt. Rev. William Bell White Howe who served from 1871 to 1894.
In 1894 Bishop Capers appointed Rev. Thomas Perry Baker, rector of St. David’s, as missionary in charge of the St. Paul’s Mission in Bennettsville. Less than three years later in 1897 the new mission purchased a ¾ acre lot on Fayetteville Avenue for the tidy sum of $350, and its twelve members set about to break ground for a new church. Our founders to who so much is owed are listed below, and many of their descendents continue as devoted members of St. Paul’s.
St. Paul’s church was completed in December and the first services were conducted on Christmas Day in 1897, and the church was consecrated on June 1, 1899. St. Paul’s remained a mission church administered by St. David’s, Cheraw, until 1908 when Bishop W.A. Guerry sent the Rev. Edwin Anderson Penick to become our first resident clergyman. St. Paul’s became a parish church in 1914.
St. Paul ’s is a traditional Episcopal parish that emphasizes the Sacraments in its worship. St. Paul’s has a long history of liturgically-centered worship approached with reverence and dignity. The occasional use of renewal music and other means of “non-traditional” worship have also been included in our worship calendar. Generally the Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday with Rite I service at 8:00 a.m. and Rite II Service at 10:00 a. m. followed by our traditional social hour at eleven. There is typically a Tuesday healing or prayer service and Eucharist each Wednesday.
Music is an important part of the worship at St. Paul’s. Led by our director and organist music is provided each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Special music using guitars and flute is also used on festival occasions and other special events.
St. Paul ’s observes all major seasons and feast days of the church calendar. After our traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake celebration, there is an imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday followed by covered dish suppers and teachings throughout the Lenten Season. Holy Week is observed with several special services including Stations of the Cross and Maundy Thursday with the traditional Stripping of the Altar. Special services and teachings are also conducted during the Advent Season to prepare all parishioners young and old for Christmas. The 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Eucharist at St. Paul’s is a special time of joy and thanksgiving and has become a “looked forward to” event for the entire community. Other holy days are also observed throughout the year with incense being used on occasion.
The worship at St. Paul’s is enhanced through the efforts of outstanding acolytes and lectors. A dedicated altar guild faithfully prepares for worship services, tends to the altar and sacristy, and assists with the flowers that decorate our church.
Christian education and youth programming has long been a major focus of our ministry at St. Paul’s. In addition to our weekly fellowships, Bible studies, and weekend “happenings” at the Youth House, our EYC has eagerly joined forces with others in the Diocese for events such as Mondo Weekend and the West Virginia Ski Retreat. Our youth group has also participated in a “Summer Mission Trips” repairing homes for the disadvantaged, and weekends at St. Christopher on Seabrook Island are always a special event. Although our most recent youth minister has left to pursue ordained ministry our programs remain active with the help of lay volunteers and our commitment is as strong as ever.
Our church school programs range from pre-school through adult ages and begin after the 10:00 service each Sunday from September through May. St. Paul’s is blessed with a number of dedicated volunteers to carry out this important ministry. Each area has its own curriculum and the adult class is often as noisy as the pre-schools.
St. Paul ’s Episcopal Church
Parish Profile – 2005
P.O. Box 587
306 Fayetteville Ave.
Bennettsville, S. C. 29512
Diocese of South Carolina
Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr., Bishop
Parish Staff
The Rev. Robert J. Laws, III, Interim Rector
Ms. Sandra Widejko, Music Director
Ms. Wanda Hayes, Parish Administrator
Vestry
Michael Winburn, Senior Warden
David Graham, Junior Warden
Dr. Harley Davidson, Asst. Junior Warden
Barry Avent, Treasurer and Youth Committee
Edith Furman, Worship Committee
Trisha Collins, Stewardship Committee
Ella Reese Hinson, Pastoral Outreach Committee
Harry Easterling, Jr., Youth Committee
Sara Jane Alston, Pastoral Outreach Committee
Ministry Leaders
Bonnie Winburn, Altar Guild
Kathryn Jackson, Altar Guild
Kathryn Jackson, DOK President
Vicky Armes, DOK Secretary
Ella Reese Hinson, DOK Treasurer
Julie Avent, The Parable
Frank Townsend, The Parable
Janis Page, St. Paul’s Pre-Kindergarten
