St. John's Lutheran Church in Pomaria SC

It's a beautiful sunny day and I find myself kid-free. I decide to strike out on my own for another adventure in historic South Carolina.  My first stop is in Pomaria. From research on the web, I learn about an old church  built in 1758 and decide to see if I can find it. After driving around in circles and fearing that I will never find the location, I finally stumble upon it. (My GPS lost it's signal or something out here and would not take me to the exact site.)

The signs reads: St. John's Lutheran Church...This Lutheran church stands on a royal grant of 100 acres made in 1763 to John Adam Epting and Peter Dickert, elders of the Dissenting congregation on Crim's Creek. The origins of St. John's date as early as 1754, when the Reverend John Gasser settled near here. The church was incorporated in 1794 as "the German Lutheran Congregation of St. John."

The original church is no longer here, but this marker stands in its stead. It reads: JOHN ADAM EPTING AND PETER DICKERT, OFFICERS OF ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION RECEIVED 100 ACRES OF LAND FROM KING GEORGE III OF ENGLAND FOR CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. THIS STONE MARKS THE LOCATION OF THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING.

Another view of the marker.

A view to the second church from the marker. A cemetery separates the new from the old. The graves closer to the old site are the older ones dating 1700-1800s.

These are only a sampling of the gravestones found here. After wandering through the cemetery, I walk to the second church which also doubled as a school.

The second church was built in the old German style and is on the land which is today owned by St. John's Cemetery. This church doubled as a school and the rows of windows down both sides allowed light inside.

The third white church, known as THE WHITE CHURCH, was built in1809 under the leadership of Reverend Frederick Joseph Wallem. His remains are in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Captain John A Summer, grandson and namesake of the pioneer settler, made all the hinges, nails and hardware for this church. For 141 years, this church was used for worship. It is probably the oldest frame Lutheran Church building in SC.

This place was an amazing find. Especially since it contains two old buildings in fairly good condition, a marker where a third stood and a sizeable graveyard with lots of history. This place is definitely worth a visit.

When leaving this spot in search of another old school, I found a section of the Palmetto trail. (One day, I fully intend to walk and record this entire trail.)

I photographed both sides of the road and information found there so I can remember where it is for future reference. I love this trail.

I found several schools today and spend most of my day out photographing historic sites. I am not putting them all here though because I think each one deserves its own page. If you like historic old buildings, keep watching for more schools to be loaded. Each site is worth a visit. There is so much history in the small towns of South Carolina. I'm so glad we are a part of a state interested in preserving its past.