A house RESOLUTION

 

TO CELEBRATE THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE ONE HUNDRED sixtieth anniversary of St. Matthew United Methodist Church and to congratulate Reverend Shirley P. Gordon and the congregation for years of dedicated service to their God and the Camden community.

 

Whereas, the House of Representatives is pleased to learn that St. Matthew United Methodist Church will celebrate its one hundred sixtieth anniversary at a gala on Saturday, September 12, 2026; and

 

Whereas, the early members of St. Matthew Church spent years meeting in a grape arbor until 1866 when African Americans became recognized as American citizens. Those members created a legal agreement in which each member agreed to pay fifty cents a year for land on which to build a church until the balance was paid in full, a great sacrifice in times of such economic hardship; and

 

Whereas, four acres of land were obtained, and these pioneers acquired the necessary materials to construct a small church. In 1879, they finished construction of a one-room church building, and they called the church St. Matthew; and

 

Whereas, when the church grew year after year, the building could no longer accommodate the congregants, so they had to revert to the grape arbor as a place for childrens' classes while the church developed plans to construct a larger edifice in 1892 for twice the membership and a parsonage; and

 

Whereas, the church was renamed St. Matthew Methodist Episcopal Church; catechism classes began, and various choirs formed during this time. Community assistance and participation were also important to the St. Matthew congregation, and as a result the membership continued to grow; and

 

Whereas, new accommodations were needed to house this growth, and in 1919, a decision was made to extend the building by adding rooms to either side. Church members solicited monetary and material donations from the community. Lumber was donated by Mr. Shivers, a close white friend of the congregation. As the blessings came, various members donated their time and talent to construct the rooms themselves; and

 

Whereas, the beautiful place, with high cathedral ceilings and an open sanctuary, made it even more encouraging for people to travel long distances on foot to get to church. Some walked barefoot, but they arrived eager to begin worship service. Water was needed as the parched congregants who arrived to worship would rush to the drinking well. It was later replaced with public water lines; and

 

Whereas, as modern utilities became available, electricity was installed, dirt roads were paved, and cars became affordable. In 1970, church officials, fascinated by modern materials, decided to beautify the internal and external church structure. The parsonage was demolished, and the church building was bricked on the outside to maintain its longevity. The interior was paneled, floors were carpeted, and seats were replaced. The grounds were leveled, and shrubbery was planted. The bell inside the church's steeple had inadvertently been left out during the 1970 renovations, a bell that is over one hundred years old. It was kept in a safe place until 2000 and is now encased on the church grounds; and

 

Whereas, a new church to the right of the old St. Matthew Church was built on the same four-acre tract purchased over a hundred years ago. December 4, 1988, marked the first service held in the new church with services conducted by Pastor R. L. Snowden and District Superintendent Gloria Robbins Davis. Three hundred twenty members and friends were present for this service; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives commends St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Camden for over one and a half centuries of ministry in and service to the community and extends warmest congratulations on the occasion of the church's historic anniversary. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrate the joyous occasion of the one hundred sixtieth anniversary of St. Matthew United Methodist Church and congratulate Reverend Shirley P. Gordon and the congregation for years of dedicated service to their God and the Camden community.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Shirley P. Gordon.

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