S*1079 Concurrent Resolution, By Davis

Similar(H 4528)
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. HELENA IN
 BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA UPON THE OCCASION OF THEIR THREE HUNDREDTH
 ANNIVERSARY AND TO WISH THEM MANY MORE YEARS OF SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY.

   01/10/12  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 40)
   01/11/12  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
                     (House Journal-page 13)

TO RECOGNIZE THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. HELENA IN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA UPON THE OCCASION OF THEIR THREE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO WISH THEM MANY MORE YEARS OF SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to learn that the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort, South Carolina will celebrate their Tricentennial Celebration on January 22, 2012; and

Whereas, the Lord Bishop of London will deliver the sermon for the grand celebration; and

Whereas, the Parish was established in 1712 as a colonial parish of the Church of England on the outer reaches of the British Empire; and

Whereas, the Parish Church of St. Helena is among the oldest churches in North America; and

Whereas, as the established church in the Province of Carolina and the Crown Colony of South Carolina, the Parish Church of St. Helena's Vestry served as the local government from the earliest settlement of the vast area known as St. Helena's Parish until the American Revolution; and

Whereas, from its earliest days, the Parish Church of St. Helena ministered to the spiritual needs of all, guarded freedoms, administered the laws, conducted elections, and levied and collected taxes for care of the poor; and

Whereas, Thomas Heyward, Jr., a son of the Parish Church of St. Helena, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union; and

Whereas, the Parish Church of St. Helena provided twenty acres of land in 1801 for the establishment of Beaufort College, now the University of South Carolina Beaufort; and

Whereas, the Parish Church of St. Helena was a leader in the Great Beaufort Revival of 1831 where the people of this community discovered, renewed, and proclaimed their faith and inspired scores of its members to enter the ministry including the first missionary Bishop to China; and

Whereas, the Parish Church of St. Helena has remained steadfast in faith for three centuries surviving war, revolution, civil conflict, economic depression, pestilence, and disease; and

Whereas, the Parish Church of St. Helena is a beacon to the community and world, opening its doors to all who are seeking spiritual renewal through the word of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures and the traditional teachings of the Church. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort, South Carolina upon the occasion of their three hundredth anniversary and to wish them many more years of spiritual prosperity.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Parish Church of St. Helena.