A house RESOLUTION

 

TO CELEBRATE THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTy-sixTH ANNIVERSARY OF Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church AND TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR Reverend Dr. Morris Waymar Jr. AND THE CONGREGATION FOR THEIR longstanding and DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE Spartanburg COMMUNITY.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church of Spartanburg is celebrating its one hundred fifty-sixth anniversary in 2025; and

 

Whereas, one of Spartanburg's older churches, Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church is the oldest African American Methodist congregation in the city, dating back to 1869. Tradition holds that, as the first permanent church building was being built, church members placed silver dollars under each corner of the new church on a hill, giving it the name of Silver Hill; and

 

Whereas, the founder and first minister of Silver Hill, Reverend James R. Rosemond, was held in such high esteem by black Methodists in his day that he came to be called "Father Rosemond," an unusual title for a Methodist elder; and

 

Whereas, born in slavery and separated from his parents at age six, Reverend Rosemond was sent to live with a Methodist minister's family, where he felt a call to ministry at an early age. As a young adult, he was licensed to exhort, similar to today's lay speaker, and in the late 1850s, he was licensed as a "colored preacher." After emancipation, he was ordained into the Methodist ministry and sent to minister to the freedmen in the Upstate; and

 

Whereas, he founded a large number of African American Methodist churches from Anderson and Oconee counties in the west and through York and Chester counties in the east. He eventually returned to Spartanburg in his later years, and at least one of his daughters remained a devoted member and Sunday school teacher at Silver Hill for many years; and

 

Whereas, Silver Hill Church moved from its home on North Converse Street to a new location west of downtown in the late 1990s. In the summer of 2024, Orangeburg native Reverend Morris Waymer Jr. became the pastor of Silver Hill, a man deeply rooted in family values; and

 

Whereas, the ministry of Silver Hill involves serving not only the church, but also its surrounding community: raising money for local ministries, reaching out to local elementary schools to help, striving to collaborate in everything, and advocating for racial reconciliation in the community; and

           

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives commends Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church in Spartanburg for more than a century and a half 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 fifty-sixth anniversary of Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church and congratulate and honor Reverend Dr. Morris Waymar Jr. and the congregation for their longstanding and dedicated service to the Spartanburg community.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. Morris Waymar Jr.

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