St. Peter AME Church History

Rev. Roberta Jackson, Pastor

St. Peter A.M.E. Church was founded in 1867 by many dedicated families. The meeting place was a “bush arbor” located in the Caw Caw Township of Orangeburg County which is currently zoned in Calhoun County. The “bush arbor” was later destroyed by a storm.

Faithful leaders of the first church included the late Rev. Ervin Mintz, Pastor; the late Peter Gladden, the first trustee and St. Peter’s namesake; the late Joseph Gladden, church secretary, trustee, steward, and class leader; the late John Rumph, trustee; the late Equille Rumph, stewardess; the late Rev. Elliott Gladden, trustee and class leader; and the late Hamp Harley, Sr., Sunday School superintendent, class leader, steward, and trustee. The A.M.E. Church at the time was under the leadership of the late Bishop James Alexander Shorter (1817 – 1887) and the late Presiding Elder T. Lykes.

After the first church was destroyed, a second building of wood frame was erected by the grace of God and the dedicated leadership of the late Rev. J. W. Seal. A few of the church officers during that time included the late Hamp Harley, Sr., Trustee Pro-Tem; the late Joseph Gladden, secretary; the late William Salley, treasurer; and the late Luther Mintz, Sr., steward treasurer.

Other prominent leaders included the late Thomas Rumph, the late Lonnie Rumph, the late Rev. Frank Harley, Sr., the late Annie Amaker Harley, the late Carrie Amaker, the late Emma Harley Mintz, the late Marcillar Rumph Gladden, the late Annie Amaker, the late Pansy Saylor, the late Essie Culcleasure Heatley, the late Bertha L. Willis Hook, the late Isadore Harley, Sr., the late Clifton Gladden, Sr., the late Solie Surgick, the late Jim Murchison, the late William Murchison, the late Luvenia Murchison, the late Bertha Lee Willis Hook, late James Harley, Sr., the late Eugene Harley, the late Idella Hook Harley, the late Nathaniel Heatley, Sr., the late Hattie Brimfield, the late Gracie Harley Knotts, the late Saul Hickson, and Sister Eloise Gladden.Once again, St. Peter was destroyed - this time by fire. The third church, which currently exists, was completed in 1965 under the leadership of the late Rev. Isaiah. S. Felder. Additional renovations to the building were completed in July 2004 under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. J. Arthur McDonald.

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St. Peter AME Church (North, SC) History
1867-2024
Originally compiled and composed by former church members, Margaret Jones and Miriam Jones Evans. Information has been updated annually since 2012 by Sister Delphine Hook Scott based on information collected from current pastors, church ministry officers, and members.))