Camden First United Methodist Church
Pastor Otis Scott, Jr

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About Our Church

Vision Statement

As head of the church, Christ is calling Camden First United Methodist Church to be honest, faithful disciples by working together to serve our church and community with loving hearts, making and nurturing disciples, and using our gifts and talents to meet the needs of others.

History Of Camden First United Methodist Church

As was the case all over the South, Negroes, during slavery and the Civil War, received their religious nurturing where they worked--in the gallery of white churches. This was no less true in Camden.  After the Civil War, the Methodist Church North returned to South Carolina and resumed its work.  Under Bishop Baker, the South Carolina Missions Conference was organized on April 02, 1866.  Camden was among seven charges of the Charleston District. Oral tradition has it that a Negro congregation was formed in Camden before 1866.  This congregation worshipped in its own building on the south side of West DeKalb Street.  On June 20, 1836, Frank Adamson deeded to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States the property on which the church stood.  H. Webster, Gibbs Carter, S. Brown, Don Carlos, I. Nash, and Ephraim Robertson composed the Trustee Board to whom the property was deeded. T. Willard Lewis was appointed to the Charleston District and was, therefore, the first Presiding Elder of this congregation.  On April 07, 1866, the first pastor, William Cole, was appointed.  In 1868, the second pastor, E. Minor was appointed by Bishop E. S. Janes. The year 1869 was one to be remembered because the first annual conference held in the church convened February 11, 1869.  The membership at this time numbered 1,320--the largest in the church's history.  The church's present site was secured and a wood structure was erected by the White Methodist Episcopal Church in 1828.  The use of the wood building for worship by the Negro congregation was begun in 1872 when the White congregation bought and built on Lyttleton Street (now Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church).  On November 24, 1875, the current church building was purchassed from the White congregation.  A parsonage was added to the properties of the church between 1879 and 1884. During the tenure of J. B. Taylor (1903 - 1906), many improvements were made to the church.  The building was covered with shingles.  The stairway was moved to the front of the church and electrical lighting replaced the oil lamps.  A beautiful chandelier was hung in the sanctuary.  Thes repairs and beautifications were mad in preparation on the 1907 Annual Conference.  Following the Conference, C. R. Brown, Sr. became the pastor.  It has been said that he personally paid off the debt on the church property. During the tenure of B. S Williams, a prayer band consisting of members and friends residing in the Kirkwood section of Camden desired a church.  Building materials were placed on the land secured for the new church.? (The land was secured from Floyd Ballard.)  The church, for all practical purposes, was built in one day - June 12, 1913. Among the persons responsible for the new venture were Jane K. Brown, Cornelia Charles, Camilla Benjamin, Hattie Martin, March Adams, Camilla Collins, Tom Martin, Mary Adams, Emma Whitley, Vincent Carlos, Scip Timbers, Richmond Clemmons, Lula Clemmons, West Charles, King Salmond, Tom Cantey, James Chestnut, Rachel Niland, Dina Smith, Byrd Smith, Amelia Stewart, Bryant McClester, and Horace White. Kershaw County records state Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States Of America-to-Trustees of Macedonia Church of Camden, State of South Carolina, county of Kershaw know all men by these presents that the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America in the state aforesaid - in consideration of the sum of five dollars ($5.00) to Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America, paid by Isaac Daze, James Truesdale, and King Salmond as trustees of the Macedonia Church of Camden, South Carolina in the State aforesaid have granted, bargained, sold, and released and by these presents to grant, bargain, sell, and release unto the said Isaac Daze, James Truesdale, and King Salmond as Trustees of the Macedonia Church of Camden, South Carolina, all that piece, parcel, or lot of land... Witness in the Hand and Seal of Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America this 29th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty and in the one hundred twenty and in the one hundred and forty-fourth year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.? Signed, Sealed, Delivered by the presence of Jas Reynolds, B. H. Hunter, Henry Carlos, Bennie Jones, James P. Cunningham, Joe Dow, B. T. Spaulding, March Adams, E. H. Dibble, R. H. Haile, E. J. McGirt, R. D. Belton, E. L. Gamble, T. S. Levy, R. D. Dibbled, J. D. McLain, and J. J. Reid. The Trinity Church building stood until 1925 when it was partially destroyed by fire.  Plans were immediately projected for the construction of a new building.  During the interim, Browning Home Mather Academy and Mt. Moriah Baptist Church gave permission for the congregation to use their facilities.  Raising money for the construction of the new building was a team effort of the members and children of the church and the community at large.  After selling many dinners, pastries, and many other programs, the church had enough money to begin building the new church.  Aside from the building fund, members were asked to donate bricks.  The new building with the exception of the Sunday School room, was completed in 1928. June 28, 1928 was a day that will long be remembered by the people who participated and by the children of those participants.  This was the day when the congregation of Trinity marched from Mather Academy to its new building.  It was a day of rejoicing and praise.  S. M. McCollom was the pastor at this time.  Although it was a joyous occasion, the church was not without problems.  It was in debt and in danger of losing its new building. Using his church's financial condition as a platform, I. B. English, a churchman and local preacher, was elected to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of 1932.  is interes in his church caused him to seek help, which he sought in Dr. Meuller and Bishop F. T. Keeney, representatives of the General Board.  These gentlemen accompanied Mr. English to Camden to assess the situation at Trinity.  Later Dr. Meuller and Mr. Keeney issued a challenge to congregation.  If the local church could raise $2,000.00 in sixty days, the Geneal Board would lend them $6,000.00 to reconcile some of the church's debt. TRINITY DID IT! In 1933, with the efforts of Mr. John Myers and his Sunday School class, the Sunday School room was completed.  Mrs. Judidah Davis was instrumental in obtaining an organ for the church.  In 1937, a bell which had been the dream of Mr. Beckwith Carlos, Sr., was placed in the bell tower.  Mr. Carlos died before he saw his dream realized; however, due to the efforts of his wife and many others the dream was indeed realized.  In spite of many accomplishments and fund-raising activities, the church was still in debt.  Under the leadership of the pastor, Rev. Robert Freeman, the mortgage was burned in 1941.  This was due to concerned efforts of members, friends, community and especially Rev. Freeman who sacrificed his salary until the debt was paid. In 1942, Rev. W. R. Gregg was assigned to the pastorate at Trinity.  Under his administration Trinity became known as the best organized church in the South Carolina Conference.  Rev. Gregg presented the idea of building a new parsonage; however, he was promoted to District Superintendent before the plans for the parsonage were finalized.  Rev. Warren Jenkins followed Rev. Gregg as the pastor of Trinity and in 1954 the new parsonage was ready for occupancy.  The Jenkins family was the first to reside in the new parsonage. From 1960 - 1967, Rev. James Gadsden served as the pastor of Trinity.  It was during this time that Macedonia and Trinity truly became sister churches in that the pastor served both churches and the Camden Charge was born.  The Camden Charge was served by Rev. Granville Hicks from 1967 to 1970.  Under his leadership, the Trinity Apartments were built to provide decent, affordable housing for the citizens of Camden and Kershaw County who were living in substandard dwellings.  Rev. Clyde Calhoun was the Charge's pastor from 1970 to 1977. From 1977 to 1986, Rev. George F. Manigo, Jr. served as the pastor.  Under his leadership, Trinity underwent extensive repairs--the stained-glassed windows were re-framed in aluminum; the walls were repaired and painted; the current organ was purchased from Mather Academy after the school closed.  Rev. Franklin H. Johnson served the Charge from 1986 to 1990. In 1990, one of Trinity's own--Rev. Carl F. Ritter -- returned to serve as pastor of the Charge; he also represented one of the first cross-racial appointments in the South Carolina Conference.  He served until 1995.  During his tenure, Trinity formed "Celebration Teams" in order to raise funds needed to make repairs to the building.  It was also during this time that both churches defined their goals and focus for approaching the 21st Century with the program entitled "Vision 2000". In 1995, Rev. Cassandra P. Jackson was appointed as te Charge's first female pastor.  Under her leadership Class Leaders, Youth, and Boy Scouts were re-organized, and an Emergency Fund and Outreach Ministry for Women's Shelters were established.  Most importantly, under her leadership, the merger of the Trinity and Macedonia Churches became a reality.  After serveral meetings with the Merger Committee which consisted of members of Trinity and Macedonia and several reports to the respective congregations, a vote was taken to decide the merger.  The vote from both congregations was solidly in favor of the merger and in March, 1998, CAMDEN FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WAS FORMED. Camden First has been blessed with great leadership.  Our leaders -- past and present -- have given of themselves in service and the building of God's kingdom here on earth.  Currently, Rev. Otis Scott, Jr. is in his fourth year as the second pastor of Camden First United Methodist Church. Pastors serving Trinity included 1866 - Rev. William Cole 1868 - Rev. E. Minor 1884 - Rev. J. R. Townsend and Rev. C.C Jacobs (with Mt. Joshua) Rev. V. H. Bulky 1886 - Rev. J. H. Johnson 1907 - Rev. C. R. Brown 1913 - Rev. B. S. Williams (Church organized in Kirkwood section) 1925 - Rev. B. F. Bradford 1928 - Rev. S. M. McCollom 1932 - Rev. I. B. English 1939 - Rev. Robert F. Freeman 1942?- Rev. W. R. Gregg 1952 - Rev. R. E. Bethea, Rev. I. DeQuincy Newman 1953 - Rev. Warren M. Jenkins 1956 - Rev. Perry R. Tiller, Rev. Stokes (District Superintendent) 1959 - Rev. James Bradley Pastors serving Trinity and Macedonia (Camden Charge) included 1960 - Rev. James S. Gadsden 1967 - Rev. Granville A. Hicks 1970 - Rev. Clyde L. Calhoun 1977 - Rev. George F. Manigo, Jr. 1986 - Rev. Franklin H. Johnson 1990 - Rev. Carl F. Ritter 1995 - Rev. Cassandra P. Jackson Pastors serving Camden First include 1998 - Rev. Cassandra P. Jackson 2000 - Rev. Otis Scott, Jr. Other pastors who served Macedonia included Rev. Isiah Boone Rev. Lemmon Rev. Judge Clark Rev. Brown