State Church Records
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South Carolina Church records can be a abundant source of information for the genealogical and historical researcher. In many parts of South Carolina, church records predate civil records. They therefore document vital occurrences, giving birth, marriage, and death information and facts that might often be lost. Furthermore offering names and dates, church records may expose relationships between people and show a family’s position in the community. In addition, entries of a personal nature are not unheard of, and these may offer a peek into an ancestor’s character or habits.

Previous to South Carolina County and city governments compiled vital records, many people recorded significant times, events, and names in their family Bible. Family Bibles are helpful research resources. Even though the dates can’t be guaranteed, Family Bibles are a tangible link with past generations.

Since South Carolina did not record vital records statewide early on in its history, vital records from various churches that existed in the state’s early days are very important, especially from a genealogical research standpoint. Beginning in 1706, the Church of England was declared the official church supported by the state. It was later renamed the Protestant Episcopal Church. It recorded not only birth and burials, but also marriages and christenings. From 1706 to 1778, there were 25 parishes founded across the state. Two of them were established for the Huguenots, who used a Book of Common Prayer in French. Each of the parish registers that still exists has been published, many in multiple forms, including books and appearances in the South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine. The Dalcho Historical Society, Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina also has some of the extant Protestant Episcopal Church records on file.

In the early 1700s, Quakers first settled in South Carolina. They were joined by Irish immigrants in the 1750s. Then, from 1760 onward, other groups of Quakers joined them from Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

In 1685, land grants were issued along the shoreline of South Carolina. That brought French Huguenots, who built permanent settlements in the area. Unfortunately, many of the the Huguenots’ records have been lost, but some do exist. They can be found in Transactions of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, (1888- present).

In the early 1700s, Presbyterians first came to South Carolina. Later, they were affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church. For more information on those records, contact Presbyterian College Library, Due West, SC 29325, or the Historical Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches.

During the 1700s, Lutherans also came to South Carolina. They were primarily immigrants from Switzerland and Germany. Many of the early Evangelical Lutheran records are still extant. They can be obtained through the Lutheran Theological Seminary Library.

1789 was the year that the first Roman Catholic church in South Carolina was founded. It was built at Charleston. Those vital records, including births, deaths, and marriages, have been carefully preserved and can be obtained from the Charleston Diocesan Archives.

The largest religious group in South Carolina today is the Baptists. However, the Baptist Church was not established in South Carolina until 1783. For information on Baptist records, researchers should contact the South Carolina Baptist Historical Collection, James B. Duke Library, Poinsett Highway, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613. The Journal of the South Carolina Baptist Historical Society, 3 (1977): 32-43 has a list of the church records that can be found at the James B. Duke Library.

1783 was also about the time that the first Methodists settled in South Carolina. Membership lists, conference records, biographical information, and historical information were all kept by the Methodist Church. Those records can be obtained from the South Carolina Methodist Conference Archives, Sandor Teszler Library, Wofford College. Some Methodist records can also be found at the University of South Carolina’s South Caroliniana Library in Columbia.

South Carolina Church and Bible Links

Before South Carolina County and city governments collected vital records, many people recorded important dates, events, and names in their family Bible. Family Bibles are valuable research tools. Although the dates cannot be guaranteed, Family Bibles are a tangible link with past generations.