Wambaw Church celebrates 250 years of history

When the Brick Church at Wambaw was consecrated in 1768, South Carolina was a British colony and St. James-Santee Parish was a prosperous rice planting community along the Santee River. Two-hundred-fifty years later, the hand-pegged cypress pews of the Wambaw Church were filled once again as St. James-Santee, McClellanville celebrated its 250th anniversary with a Thanksgiving Harvest Celebration of Holy Eucharist on November 18.

It was a chance to experience a taste of what colonial churchgoing was like, with windows open to a mild autumn day as people sat in the enclosed pews, greeted old friends, sang hymns, shared Communion, and heard the Rev. Alex Barron preach from the raised pulpit.

“We are also celebrating the modern-day saints who helped preserve this church over the years,” said the Rev. Caroline Goodkind, interim vicar of St. James-Santee. The Rev. Jennie Olbrych, who recently retired as vicar, gave a tribute to the late William McGillivray “Bo” Morrison, Jr., whose work helped secure the church as a National Historic Landmark and protected the surrounding pine forest and unpaved stretch of road. 

In his sermon, the Rev. Alex Barron read words written by his great-grandfather, David Doar, who as a boy carved his name on a pew door that's still visible near the pulpit. Fr. Barron read this excerpt from an article published in "The Diocese" in 1918:

"Her young men and women are going to other homes and other work that call them. Her old men and women are passing away one by one and soon all will be gone, and then she may be desolate for her children, but she still stands, sadly though it be, strong as ever, in spite of her one hundred and fifty years, as evidence of the God-serving who once lived around her, as evidence of the good seed she has sown, which has grown and expanded, like a pebble thrown in the ocean makes a ripple going in an ever widening circle, influencing men for good, and uplifting the world until shall be merged into eternity, as an evidence that the "faith once delivered to the saints" fell not on stony ground, or hearts, but bore fruit, and that abundantly. May she still stand for all time; and may her wide old doors be often thrown open to gather under hoary rooftree the weary, the down-trodden, the sorrrowful, and the saints of the Lord to receive comfort, and to offer their prayers and praises to the Savior, the Living God."

Since its consecration in 1768, the Old Brick Church has survived storms, war, poverty and vandalism, including a short stint as a stable for raiding parties’ horses. But faithful Episcopalians and devoted community members continued to care for the building, both for its architectural and historical significance and as a spiritual home. The non-profit Brick Church Restoration Committee continues to support its ongoing care.

The church’s design is a combination of Georgian and Classical architectural elements with local and imported materials. The body of the church is English brick, while the wedge-shaped bricks throughout the portico columns were made locally. Today, the flagstone floor is worn smooth from countless feet, beneath the original plasterwork of the high, vaulted ceiling.

St. James-Santee Episcopal Church worships primarily in the chapel-of-ease at 205 Oak St., which was built in 1890 after most of the parish families had relocated to the village of McClellanville. Devotion to the Brick Church remained constant, and the local congregation still goes to the Old Brick Church every spring and fall for Sunday worship.
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Directions to the Wambaw Church and a detailed history can be found at www.brickchurchstjames.org. Learn more about St. James-Santee Episcopal Church atwww.stjamessantee.org

The 228th Diocesan Convention of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina approved by acclamation this resolution on November 17, and it was read aloud at the beginning of Sunday's service:

BE IT RESOLVED:
That we congratulate St. James-Santee Episcopal Church in McClellanville as they celebrate, this Sunday, the 250th Anniversary of the Brick Church at Wambaw. The Brick Church was consecrated in 1768 and has stood for two and a half centuries through the faith and dedication of generations of Anglicans and Episcopalians. We offer our prayers and best wishes as you continue to serve our Lord for many years to come.