Stoney Creek Independent Presbyterian Chapel of Prince William Parish
Encyclopedia
Stoney Creek Independent Presbyterian Chapel of Prince William Parish or Stoney Creek Presbyterian Chapel is a chapel in southeastern Hampton County, South Carolina, United States
in the unincorporated community of McPhersonville, South Carolina
about 4 mi (6 km) west of Yemassee
. In the USGS Geographic Names Information System
, it is called McPhersonville Church. It was built about 1833. It is one block north of Pocotaglio Road (State Highway 25-17) on State Highway 25-286. The chapel is only antebellum
structure in McPhersonville. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places
on May 22, 2002.
. In 1785, this was incorporated as the Independent Presbyterian Chapel of Prince William Parish.
Before the Civil War
, many rice-planters from Prince William Parish built summer homes on McPhersonville, which was then in Beaufort District
. This enabled them to stay at somewhat higher ground during the hotter months of summer with malaria
-bearing mosquito
es. In 1832, some planters set aside about 1 acre (0.404686 ha) for the construction of a summer chapel.
The chapel was used as hospital and campsite by the Union Army
. The parent Stoney Creek Presbyterian Church on the Pocotaligo River was dismantled for use in the construction of a bridge and other structures.
After the war, the congregation used the summer chapel in McPhersonville. The congregation eventually diminished and was dissolved in 1967. The chapel was assigned under the custody of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort.
It was used as a filming location
in 1994s Forrest Gump
. It stood in for the Four Square Baptist Church where Gump prays with the choir for shrimp.
structure with gable
d roof. Its facade faces southwest. It has a rectangular plan with a semi-hexagonal bay in the rear. The rectangular portion of building is about 40 ft (12 m) long, 24 ft (7 m) wide. There is a front portico
that is about 11 ft (3 m) long and 24 ft (7 m) wide with four Doric
, solid heart pine columns that rest on wooden plinth
s. There is a simple pediment
on the front facade. There are central arched doors flanked by four over four light windows topped with two light semi-elliptical transoms. There is a round stained glass
window above the doorway. The side elevations have five bays with four over four windows with similar semi-elliptical transoms. The rear bay has two smaller four over four windows. All these windows have arched, louvered shutter
s.
An octagonal steeple
with arched six light windows on four sides over the portico was added in 1890. The steeple is topped with a wooden finial
.
The interior has plain plaster walls, its original wooden pews, and wide pine floors. A two-tiered platform is at the rear. A Farrand & Votey pump organ
is in front of the rear door. It is screened by a paneled balustrade
topped with a privacy curtain hung from turned posts that extend above each end of the balustrade. There is painted communion table
in the front. Electrical lights have replaced the original kerosene hanging lamps.
A sketch of the floor plan and front and side elevations have been published. Additional pictures are available.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the unincorporated community of McPhersonville, South Carolina
McPhersonville, South Carolina
McPhersonville is an unincorporated community in eastern Hampton County, South Carolina, United States, near the county's borders with Beaufort County and Jasper County...
about 4 mi (6 km) west of Yemassee
Yemassee, South Carolina
Yemassee is a town in Beaufort and Hampton counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 1,027 at the 2010 census. Yemassee is also very near the borders of Colleton and Jasper counties and is often considered to be the geographical center or heart of the Lowcountry region...
. In the USGS Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
, it is called McPhersonville Church. It was built about 1833. It is one block north of Pocotaglio Road (State Highway 25-17) on State Highway 25-286. The chapel is only antebellum
Antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture is a term used to describe the characteristic neoclassical architectural style of the Southern United States, especially the Old South, from after the birth of the United States in the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War...
structure in McPhersonville. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on May 22, 2002.
History
In 1743, a group of local residents established a non-Anglican Stoney Creek church near the unincorporated community of Pocotaligo on Pocotaglio River. The minister was William Hutson, who was a disciple of George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
. In 1785, this was incorporated as the Independent Presbyterian Chapel of Prince William Parish.
Before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, many rice-planters from Prince William Parish built summer homes on McPhersonville, which was then in Beaufort District
Beaufort County, South Carolina
-National protected areas:*Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge *Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 155,215 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 206 people per...
. This enabled them to stay at somewhat higher ground during the hotter months of summer with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
-bearing mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es. In 1832, some planters set aside about 1 acre (0.404686 ha) for the construction of a summer chapel.
The chapel was used as hospital and campsite by the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. The parent Stoney Creek Presbyterian Church on the Pocotaligo River was dismantled for use in the construction of a bridge and other structures.
After the war, the congregation used the summer chapel in McPhersonville. The congregation eventually diminished and was dissolved in 1967. The chapel was assigned under the custody of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort.
It was used as a filming location
Filming location
A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using sets constructed on a movie studio backlot or soundstage...
in 1994s Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
. It stood in for the Four Square Baptist Church where Gump prays with the choir for shrimp.
Architecture
The chapel is a simple, Greek RevivalGreek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
structure with gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof. Its facade faces southwest. It has a rectangular plan with a semi-hexagonal bay in the rear. The rectangular portion of building is about 40 ft (12 m) long, 24 ft (7 m) wide. There is a front portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
that is about 11 ft (3 m) long and 24 ft (7 m) wide with four Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
, solid heart pine columns that rest on wooden plinth
Plinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
s. There is a simple pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
on the front facade. There are central arched doors flanked by four over four light windows topped with two light semi-elliptical transoms. There is a round stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
window above the doorway. The side elevations have five bays with four over four windows with similar semi-elliptical transoms. The rear bay has two smaller four over four windows. All these windows have arched, louvered shutter
Window shutter
A window shutter is a solid and stable window covering usually consisting of a frame of vertical stiles and horizontal rails...
s.
An octagonal steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
with arched six light windows on four sides over the portico was added in 1890. The steeple is topped with a wooden finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
.
The interior has plain plaster walls, its original wooden pews, and wide pine floors. A two-tiered platform is at the rear. A Farrand & Votey pump organ
Reed organ
A reed organ, also called a parlor organ, pump organ, cabinet organ, cottage organ, is an organ that generates its sounds using free metal reeds...
is in front of the rear door. It is screened by a paneled balustrade
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
topped with a privacy curtain hung from turned posts that extend above each end of the balustrade. There is painted communion table
Communion table
A Communion table is used by many Protestant churches, particularly from Reformed, Baptist, Congregational, and non-denominational traditions, for the preparation of the Eucharist ....
in the front. Electrical lights have replaced the original kerosene hanging lamps.
A sketch of the floor plan and front and side elevations have been published. Additional pictures are available.