CARMEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PICKENS CO., SC by Martha Barnes One of the earliest churches to be formed in Pickens County, SC was Carmel. After the Treaty of Hopewell was signed the up-country of South Carolina was opened for settlement, and the Scots-Irish Presbyterians from Pennsylvania and Virginia arrived. Although Carmel was organized in 1787, there was Presbyterian activity earlier, according to an earlier settler named J. P. Smith. He cited two "preaching places, or mission stations". The first was located three miles east of Carmel. It was called Twenty-three Mile Creek, or Pickens Church. The second was located three miles south of Carmel, and was called Richmond. Both locations were supplied with preachers. In 1792, Dr. Thomas Reese became pastor of the Carmel Church. It was he who placed the date of 1787 as the year of organization. Even so, the name "Carmel" appears only in the year 1793 when it is found in the Minutes of the Presbytery, and the names of Twenty-three Mile Creek and Richmond are no longer seen. From this, it has been presumed that the two stations became one, and out of this union came Carmel. The first building was located about three miles east of the present building. The old cemetery is still there, however, a Methodist Church was built on the spot where the old Carmel was first located in the late 1800's. Carmel was moved to the current location about 1814, but it is now a Baptist Church. The church still exists and is located at SC 135 and Carmel Church Road not far from the Pickens- Anderson County line. The early ministers, in the order which they served, were, Revs. Rob't Hall, W. C. Davis, ___ Hunter, Thos. Reese, D. D. J. Simpson, J. Gilliland, A. Brown, B. Montgomery, Mas. McElhenny, ___ Murphy, James Hillhouse, and W. W. Ross, from its organization until 1836. Later, ministers were Revs. J. L. Kennedy, J. B. Adger, D. D., Hugh McLees, A. P. Nicholson and J. R. Riley (1889). The first elders of the church were: Thomas Hamilton (a Revolutionary soldier), John Hamilton, James Watson, John Wilson, and Robert McCann, Wm. McMurray, Robert Lemon, John Dickson, Alexander Oliver, Michael Dickson, Wm. Walker, Col. David K. Hamilton, Thomas G. Boggs, John Templeton, Wm. Mullikin, Thos. H. McCann, R. Brown, A. M. Hamilton, W. W. Knight, T. H. Russell, G. D. Barr, D. Grice, J. C. Boggs, J. P. Glenn, W. K. Boggs, D. H. Russell, H. T. Martin and S. D. Stewart. The first deacons about known are: Esq. Henderson, James Smith, FM. Glenn, Wm. Boggs, J. M. Smith, Col. T. H. Boggs, Wm. Ford, G. L. McWhorter, Benjamin Mullikin, S. D. Stewart, W. B. F. Taylor, John W. Glenn, J. P. Smith, Dr. W. R. Hollingsworth, L. G. Boggs. The ministers sent out from Carmel up until 1889 were: Rev. George W. Boggs; J. C. Kennedy; D. C. Boggs, Arkansas; John M. Robinson, Texas; A. R. Kennedy, D. D., Arkansas; W. L. Boggs, South Carolina; W. K. Boggs, South Carolina. Carmel is considered the mother of the Presbyterian churches in the Pickens County area, as well as one in Anderson County. Other Presbyterian churches which were later formed in the area are: Mt. Pleasant, Central, Liberty, Easley and Slabtown. Many early members are probably buried at the original site of the church which is now known as Pickens Chapel. That cemetery claims about 20 Revolutionary War soldiers. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Martha Barnes ====================================================================