HISTORY OF Saint George Methodist Church

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Saint George Methodist Church has a rich and meaningful heritage in the town of Saint George, South Carolina. Uniquely, the church was founded by a Bishop—Rev. William Capers, D.D. of Charleston—who was elected Bishop of the Southern Methodist Church in 1846. Shortly after, he purchased a farm just west of town and built a log chapel beside the main road to Reevesville. Known as Railroad Chapel, this structure stood near the old South Carolina Railroad, once the longest in the world when it opened in 1833. This chapel became the birthplace of our church.

By 1847, services were held monthly by circuit preachers such as Rev. Peyton G. Bowman and Rev. Hugh F. Porter. Bishop Capers often spent his summers in the area, worshipping and preaching at the chapel.

Saint George was first part of the Cypress Circuit (formed in 1806), but as the community grew, the Saint George Circuit was formed in 1855—when the town was still called George’s Station. That same year, James George, the town’s first settler, donated a one-acre lot for a larger church.

By 1872, the congregation had grown again and needed a new building. The sanctuary was completed and dedicated in 1874 by Bishop William Wightman. In 1918, the church was tragically destroyed by fire following a Sunday morning service. The cornerstone of the new sanctuary was laid in 1919, and the current brick church opened on May 23, 1920.

Over the years, the church expanded with the addition of Parler Hall in 1951, the Wamer Building in 1958, and the Youth Center in 2019. A peaceful Prayer Garden was also created through generous donations of land and funding.

After much prayer and discernment, Saint George Methodist Church voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church in June 2024. We now stand as an independent Methodist congregation, grounded in traditional Wesleyan theology and a strong commitment to the authority of Scripture.

Today, our church is a vibrant and growing family of faith, offering Sunday School for all ages, ministries for men, women, youth, and children, weekly worship, mission outreach, and a Christ-centered preschool. We remain dedicated to serving our community with love, truth, and grace.

More history can be found in writings by Rev. A.D. Betts (1935) and Mrs. Jean Behling (2020), available at the church.