“Edisto Island is God’s country.” – Jack McCray, author of Charleston Jazz
Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, built 1830
One is struck by the many churches lining the two lane road onto Edisto Island. Many are African American, understandably, since the island, since the first federal census, was populated mostly by blacks, as it is today.
But a beauty of an historic church is the Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, built by white planters in 1830. In the handsomely photographed book, Plantations of the Low Country, researcher Agnes L. Baldwin writes that the earliest settlers on Edisto Island were Welsh and Scottish immigrants, and that Rev. Archibald Stobo “had begun preaching on Edisto in 1722 and that (the church) had been established by at least 1710.” She continues, interestingly, “at first the Presbyterian worshippers shared their building with the Baptists, and relied on circuit riders for their pastors, but by 1722, they alone were using the church.”
interior, showing slave balcony
A large balcony with exterior entrances was built for slaves. The church interior has been beautifully restored, today, to include its original high pulpit .
Historically, Anglican and Presbyterian churches made earnest efforts, Baldwin writes, but could not compete with Baptists and Methodists in attracting Black churchgoers. The Allen AME Church, The Old First Baptist Church and many other smaller churches on Edisto, today, are historic and teaming with churchgoers every Sunday. Many drive long distances to attend.
But there is a Presbyterian Church that is black, now, down the road. The Rev. McKinley Washington, pastor of Edisto Presbyterian Church, is in his 70’s. He served for 27 years as a legislator, first in the House, then the Senate. In 1964, he organized a branch of the NAACP and led a successful voter registration drive. Today, the beautiful bridge that leads to Edisto Island is named for him, and he gathers, still, a loyal congregation.
Interviewed in 2007, Washington said that his church started shortly after the Civil War in the same way many black churches began. “Blacks worshiping in the balcony of the white church, The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, just up S.C. Highway 174, were asked to leave — during a service, the story goes. They finished their worship that day in the shade of an old oak tree.”
Their first church structure was assembled with material from Palmetto trees. Eventually, a tiny church building was uprooted from Edingsville Beach, floated up the river to Murray’s Landing, then set in place at Cypress Bottom Road and Highway 174, Washington said. In 1968, the current brick structure with its huge Presbyterian cross was erected. It’s name is Edisto Island Presbyterian Church.
The McKinley Washington, Jr. Bridge
The interview continued, “Today, the white and black churches rarely comingle, though the Rev. C.F. “Chuck” Klotzberger, former pastor of the Presbyterian Church on Edisto, did issue a public apology to Washington’s congregation a few years ago. Klotzberger acknowledged the troubling history of the island and disunity between the races. Washington said it was a courageous and admirable gesture.
“There is still a way to go in the church, still a feeling of inequality and racism,” Washington said then. “There’s too much segregation on Sunday morning, and we still have to fight to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
I will go back to the music and hope of Jack McCray’s comment to me last Friday evening, as we, a white woman and black man, stood in front of a tiny slave cabin at Magnolia Plantation, breaking bread together.
He said to me, “Edisto Island is God’s Country.” I believe with all my heart it is.
I was called to be an artist. And as an old old midwife said to me "If the Lord wants you to do something, you won't have no good luck' til you do." So, here I am, sharing what I love, longing to illuminate the work of art, which is everywhere.
Charleston Through an Artist's eye 
I’ve often admired this beautiful church on my tips to Edisto. I enjoyed your sensitive and well written post about it’s history and importance in the community. Thanks!
Kay Schnieder
Kay, Thank you so much for your kind words, and for visiting my blog. It really is a gorgeous church inside, so tastefully renovated, and full of light. Light is good. As artmakers I think we are both enamoured by the light, aren’t we?
Yes indeed… Light makes all the difference in art and life :)!
Perfectly interpreted, my friend.
reflective material…
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Dear Charlotte, distant cousin, how ironic for this post to show up today, as I came to the computer to search out a shared Hutson relative, (Emily Hutson Glover, buried at Stoney Creek Cemetery), trying to figure out which of her grandchildren (Sophie Glover Wallace) had sent me a book of Charleston photographs for my wedding, in 1967…saying in the inscription, “to my young cousin, Mary Sue…enjoy this little book, much of this is in our blood.”
Why did I wake up thinking of this book from oh so long ago !…Was it because when I drove grandsons home from school yesterday they said they missed our summer time field trips!
Oh, wow! Your post today reminds me to keep telling the grandkids my stories, keep helping them learn their roots! Thank you ! … and isn’t the computer an amazing tool, when it works as it should. (We are still recovering from Hurricane Ida here in New Orleans.) Anyhow, thank you again, and I love your paintings too. Fondly, Mary Sue Roniger
Mary Sue, how lovely to hear from you. And goodness, wishing you well after Ida. Thank you for writing and your kind words. Love, cousin Charlotte