Erskine celebrates America’s 250th at historic South Carolina church
Erskine College held a joyful celebration on Sunday at Salem Black River Presbyterian Church, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and honoring the church’s historical role in the American Revolution.
Though rain threatened, more than 250 people made the journey to Mayesville, South Carolina, filling the Salem congregation’s 1846 church building affectionately known as “Brick Church.”
To open the celebration, members of the armed forces from Shaw Air Force Base served as an honor guard, presenting and posting the Colors. The program consisted of patriotic music, historical presentations, a Scripture reading, and brief speeches, with refreshments following. Families gathered on the historic grounds with children donning tricornered hats provided by the Sumter Museum.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Wilson A. McElveen III, a member of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church. In his talk, “When the Revolution Came to Salem,” McElveen recounted the local effects of the Revolution as experienced by the church and community.
The Salem congregation, founded by Scots-Irish Presbyterians in 1759, endured the Revolution’s bitter conflict among neighbors. Multiple community and church members were murdered. Elder James Bradley was captured by British cavalry commander Banastre Tarleton, who deceived Bradley at his own dinner table, and spent nine months imprisoned at Camden. Salem’s pastor, the Rev. Thomas Reese, was forced to flee to North Carolina. At different times, Francis Marion, Tarleton, and their men camped and issued orders from the Salem grounds, and church members helped form Marion’s brigade as he tantalized British forces and helped pave the way to Yorktown.
Despite violence, imprisonment, and displacement, Salem endured, and Reese and Bradley returned to help rebuild the congregation, school, and community—a legacy carried forward by the church today.
Music for the event was provided by the Erskine Choraleers, under the direction of Dr. Keith Timms and accompanied by Professor Sharalyn Hicks, along with members of the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, Palmetto Pipes & Drums, organist Mark Burns, and soprano soloist Holly Cole.
Erskine and Salem Black River Presbyterian Church were joined by three co-sponsors: The Charter Institute at Erskine, Sumter 250, and the Sumter Museum. Erskine Vice President of Advancement Jim Sanderlin directed the program, worked with the church and other local partners, and conducted research on Salem’s Revolutionary history.
Readers and presenters included Dr. Mark Ross, John R. DeWitt Chair of Theology and Associate Dean for Erskine Theological Seminary; Dr. Steve Adamson, President of Erskine College; Rev. Dr. Kyle Sims ’93, ’10 (ETS), Interim Pastor of Salem Black River Presbyterian Church and Associate Vice President of External Relations at Erskine College; Rev. Brian Peake, Pastor of Mayesville Presbyterian; Stephen Gilchrist, Commissioner for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and Chairman and CEO of the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce; Cameron Runyan, Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of The Charter Institute at Erskine; Ashley Epperson, Deputy Chief of Staff for The Charter Institute at Erskine; and Babbette Jubinville and Evan Sternett, both student ambassadors with The Charter Institute at Erskine.
A stanza from William Billing’s 1778 Revolutionary choral anthem, “Chester,” sums up the spirit of the event:
What grateful Off’ring shall we bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud Hallelujahs let us Sing,
And praise his name on ev’ry Chord.
From left: Helen Taylor, whose family roots run deep at Salem; Rev. Dr. Kyle Sims ’93, ’10 (ETS); Jeanne Bell ’92
Wilson A. McElveen III presents “When the Revolution Came to Salem”
More than 20 Erskine alumni travelled from around the state to attend the event at Salem.
Stephen Gilchrist presents “The Adams Letters, 1776”
The Hancock boys modeling their new tricorne hats
Erskine President Dr. Steve Adamson
Bag pipes helped to kick off the celebration
The historic “Join or Die” flag, along with other traditional flags of the American Revolution, were carried in procession.
Participants meet and greet, seated in Salem’s historic box pews.
Erskine alumni Rachel Jordan Sims ’26, Peter Sims ’26, and Kelly Counts Sims ’95
