LEXINGTON COUNTY CHURCH TO RECEIVE HISTORICAL MARKER

2ND HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION FOR HISTORIC BIG POND BRANCH COMMUNITY IN LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. -

JEFFCOATS' MEETING HOUSE, c.1775 IS ADDED TO THE SIGNIFICANT FRAMEWORK OF HISTORY IN LOWER LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC.

In 2013 the Colonial Dames of America sponsored the first marker at the significant colonial settlement, Big Pond Branch to mark the Samuel Jeffcoat House, c. 1772. On Sunday, 4 May 2014, the Big Pond Branch community will receive a second and significant historical marker that will be placed at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, at the corner of highways 3 and 178 near the tri-county corner of Lexington, Orangeburg and Aiken counties of South Carolina. The historic church was once known as Jeffcoats' Meeting House, a Wesleyan meeting house and church that was placed in open territory outside the townships of Orangeburgh, Amelia, Saxe Gotha and New Windsor in what is now an emerging preservation area known today as the Congaree Cone, between the Congaree River and the north fork of the Edisto River. This church and the peaceful, prosperous Big Pond Branch community, its mills, farms and houses were spared during General William Tecumseh Sherman's scorched-earth campaign while the surrounding townships of Orangeburg, Lexington and Columbia were largely destroyed.

The compiled information for this project and many others at Big Pond Branch comes from decades of preservation and research by many people. The Big Pond Branch Historical Research Society is a vehicle of preservation where volunteers engage to document and preserve the history.

Following a special "Homecoming Service" worship service, is a dedication and a special covered-dish lunch. All are welcome to worship and attend the dedication and lunch (please bring your favorite dish).

This church is the founding anchor of the Big Pond Branch colonial settlement, a place according to its documented tradition is known for peace and love for all life.