GOVAN -- Salem United Methodist Church in Govan was nearly filled to capacity Sunday.

What brought generations of families and their friends to the church was not just the homecoming service. All were anxious for the unveiling of a South Carolina Historical Marker recently awarded to the church.

"This is an occasion we've looked forward to -- a historic moment for Salem Church and the community," said church member Johnnie C. Ganus, mayor of Govan.

Earlier this year, several Salem UMC members decided to preserve the history of their church for generations to come and to honor their forefathers. With the help of local historian Betty Jane Miller and Nancy Foster, president of the Bamberg County Historical Society, as well as the Hartzog Foundation, they set out to get a state historical marker placed at the site of the church and its cemetery.

"It's not an easy process. It takes a while, and it takes a lot of documentation," Foster said.

Generations have worshipped at Salem UMC since its first congregation gathered in 1818. Salem was the boyhood church of Holland Nimmons McTyeire and his family. McTyeire would grow up to become bishop of the Methodist Church and founder of Vanderbilt University, but he never forgot Salem UMC. When in the area, he would stop there to preach and visit the cemetery.

"I wonder how many people from Bamberg and Barnwell County that attended Vanderbilt knew that," said Don Still, a member of the Hartzog Foundation, which provided the funds for the state marker.

Speaking from the 150-year-old pulpit inside the church, Betty Everett, who spearheaded the marker project, told those attending the ceremony, "I'm proud McTyeire came from this church and preached from this very pulpit."

The honor of unveiling the historical marker was given to 100-year-old Mary Ray Foster and Elvie Huggins, the oldest living member of Salem UMC and wife of former pastor, B.T. Huggins.

The marker reads: "This church, founded by 1818, held its early services in a brush arbor; the first permanent sanctuary was built nearby. In 1848, Capt. J.D. Allen sold this 4-acre site to the present trustees for $1.00. The present church, built soon afterwards, has been renovated several times since. The cemetery dates from 1856; its first burials were the young children of Henry & Mary Ann Hartzog. Four members later became ministers: Rev. Charles Wilson (1802-1873), Jeremiah W. Collins (1824-1880), Holland Nimmons McTyeire (1824-1889) and B.T. Huggins (1922-2008). McTyeire, born on a farm nearby, was a Methodist bishop from 1866 until his death but is best known as the father of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, which he founded in 1873."

Salem UMC is at 144 Old Salem Road outside the town of Govan. Services are held at 11 a.m. Sundays.

T&D Correspondent Pam Leoniak-Delk can be reached by e-mail at paloma3@juno.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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