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H. 4920
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. D.C. Moss
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gm\24499ac10.docx
Introduced in the House on April 29, 2010
Adopted by the House on April 29, 2010
Summary: Bethesda Presbyterian Church
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4/29/2010 House Introduced and adopted HJ-20
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR BETHESDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY, AND TO COMMEND THE PASTOR AND CONGREGATION FOR THE SIGNIFICANT SPIRITUAL IMPACT THIS CHURCH HAS OFFERED THE COMMUNITY AND STATE.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Bethesda Presbyterian Church is commemorating two hundred fifty years of "sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ" in the Bethesda community and beyond; and
Whereas, initially populated with immigrants from the northern regions of Ireland, most of whom were Presbyterian, Bethesda is a region of York County, sixteen square miles in size; and
Whereas, in 1760, the worshipping families of the Bethesda community built a plain wooden building in which to worship their Maker and around which to bury their dead; and
Whereas, twenty years later, the congregation, still serviced with supply and part-time ministers, lost the first structure to fire, and erected another wood building with split-clapboard sides; and
Whereas, Bethesda's first pastor, Reverend Robert Becqum Walker, was installed and ordained in 1794 and ministered notable spiritual growth in the congregation for the next forty years; and
Whereas, Father Walker, as he was known, encouraged the growth of Camp Meetings at Bethesda, which lasted from 1802 until 1864. People travelled as much as forty miles to participate in these meetings and stayed in wooden tents erected on the church grounds; and
Whereas, the church's second house of worship remained in use for forty years, and the present structure was constructed in 1820 using bricks drawn to the site from Charleston in wagons, and in 1882 extensive improvements were made to that structure; and
Whereas, in 1917, the congregation finished more improvements, and in 1977, Bethesda Presbyterian Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and renovations were completed to restore the church to its original design; and
Whereas, to facilitate ministry in the congregation and to the community, many new structures have been added at the current location, including an educational building, a fellowship hall, a manse, tennis courts, and a family-life center which houses a child-development center; and
Whereas, the earliest identifiable grave marker in the church's cemetery is that of Peggy Black who died November 5, 1777. Also buried in the cemetery is James R. Martin, one of the framers of the Constitution of South Carolina, along with Alexander Love who is credited with naming York County and veterans from the Revolutionary War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the fine heritage of Bethesda Presbyterian Church and for the spiritual legacy that its ministers and congregation have made to our fine State. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Bethesda Presbyterian Church, upon the occasion of her two hundred fiftieth anniversary, and commend the pastor and congregation for the significant spiritual impact this church has offered the community and State.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Daniel L. Smoak.
This web page was last updated on May 3, 2010 at 11:08 AM