Early Methodist records indicate that Methodist ministers from Charles Towne began to penetrate the "up-country" around 1785 and into this area around 1790 - the area consisting of present day Saluda County, Edgefield County, Greenwood County, Abbeville County and McCormick County.
In 1939, the WPA (Works Progress Administration) made a survey of state and local historical records. In their inventory of churches, Rev. Foster Speer gave information about Republican Church which is on microfilm in the manuscript room of the Caroliniana Library on the campus of the University of South Carolina:
"This church is called Republican Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The name, Republican, was given because it was built to serve all denominations. The present building is a one-room wood frame structure with double front doors. It was remodeled in 1920. The value of the church and four acres of land with a cemetery is $1,500. All records before 1830 are lost. In 1830, Republican was in the Saluda Circuit with Rev. John Coburn as clergyman."
Republican Church as been through several name changes:
Republican Meeting House
Republican Church
Republican Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Republican Methodist Church
Republican United Methodist Church
An 1817 Mills Atlas of the Abbeville District gives locations of Courthouses, mills, families by name, creeks, and churches. The spot where Republican Church is now located was designated "Newby's", which leads one to assume there was no church building at that time - only a place of worship. There is no record of what year a building was constructed but according to a history of Republican Church written by Mr. J. Bruce Walker some years ago, the first building was made of logs on the same location where it now stands. When the congregation decided to build a frame church, a brush arbor was made for worship purposes until the frame building was completed. It was a one-room, wood frame building with double front doors and handmade pews. A partition in the middle divided seating of the ladies and men as was the custom of the day.
Early land deeds and other records at Abbeville County Courthouse were destroyed by fire, but it is generally believed by elderly Republican Church members that Mrs. Armenia Ferguson Searles deeded several acres of land to Republican Church. She lived in this community from 1828 to 1909. It should be remembered also that Republican Church was then located on a main road that ran from Abbeville to Plum Branch. There were no highways. Three cemeteries are located on this old road, the final resting place for past members of Republican Church.
Fond memories are recalled of the long "Amen" bench situated near the front of the church along one side occupied by prominent men of the church who resounded a frequent and loud "Amen" during the service if they approved of the minister's sermon and of the annual picnics held at Chamberlain's Mill shared by Methodists and Baptists.
No matter what the changes, Republican has stood for almost 200 years as a symbol of Faith In God. Those who have walked before us have left a rich, religious heritage which is our duty to preserve and carry this faith for future generations.
