The Wampee United Methodist WampeeUMChurch (UMC) has a rich history tied to the land and community in Wampee, South Carolina, along Highway 90. The following account is based on information from church members Anne Bell and Mary Charles Mallory, cemetery records, and historical details edited by Tom Powell. While no photographs of the original church exist, they are highly desired to document its history.
Early History and the Original Church
The original Methodist church, referred to as the “grey house” (though Mary Charles recalls it may have been red as a child), was located on the east side of Highway 90, where Wampee Baptist Church now stands. In 1941, the U.S. government acquired all property on the east side of Highway 90, extending to the waterway, for use as a bombing range. The government purchased the land at a low price, forcing the relocation of the church.
The original church building was physically moved across Highway 90 to the west side using large logs. O.J. Bell, Anne Bell’s father-in-law, purchased the building during the move, and the funds from this sale likely supported the construction of a new church. The original building, no longer used as a church, was later transferred to O.J. Bell’s daughter, Opal Bell Wilson, and eventually to Anne and L.J. Bell. Property transactions at the time were often informal, sometimes based on handshakes, with deeds finalized only after payments were completed.
The land on which the original church stood was part of the Union Valley Baptist Church property, which included a cemetery established in the late 1800s or early 1900s. After the Union Valley Baptist Church burned down (date unknown), the land was sold, and the Wampee Methodist Church was built on the site. The cemetery was designated to remain a burial ground for the Union Valley Baptist Church congregation. Only one gravestone remains today:
•  Luke Gossee: May 1, 1901 – May 1, 1904.
Construction of the Current Wampee UMC
In 1942, the current Wampee UMC building was constructed on the west side of Highway 90, on land donated by R.E. Bell, Sr., one of the five Bell brothers, and father of Dick Bell and JoAnn Bell Johnson. On January 5, 1943, O.J. Bell sold this property to the Trustees of Wampee UMC for $1.00, as documented in Horry County records. Between 1942 and 1947, while the new church was being built, the congregation held services at a nearby school, now the site of a Christian school in Wampee.
The government resold the land on the east side of Highway 90 to its original owners around 1944–1945, allowing some families to reclaim their properties. The new Wampee UMC, completed around 1947, initially had only an organ for music, with no piano. All of Mary Charles Mallory’s children were baptized in this new church.
Church Features and Traditions
•  Structure and Layout: The original church had a simple design with a central pulpit, a few steps leading into an open sanctuary, and benches on either side of a central aisle. Sunday school classes were held without partitions to the left and right of the pulpit. Mary Charles recalls a railing, table, and chairs near the pulpit, with Communion possibly served by intinction.
•  Additions: A kitchen was added to the church around 1973–1974, funded by an elderly female member of the Bell family. Stained glass windows were installed in 2005.
•  Traditions: Since at least 1971, the United Methodist Women (UMW) assigned one or two women each month to serve as hostesses, responsible for cleaning the sanctuary and bathroom, placing flowers in the church, and hosting UMW meetings. Mary Charles recalls a “pedal” organ in the original church, which she found fascinating as a child, and a tradition of dressing in “Sunday Best,” with new outfits for Easter.
•  Notable Pastor: Rev. Bessie Parker served as pastor from 1969 to 1974, becoming the first female pastor in South Carolina Methodism. She was deeply loved by the congregation.
Land History and Deeds
The land now occupied by Wampee UMC has a documented history:
•  December 15, 1906: J.L. Bell deeded a one-acre lot to the Union Valley Church for $47.00. This lot, located on the south side of the Conway and Little River Road (Highway 90), was bounded by Bell Brothers’ land and reserved as a graveyard in the southeast corner. The gravestone for Luke Gossee (1904) predates this deed, suggesting informal use of the land prior to formal transfer.
•  January 14, 1944: The land was transferred to the Trustees of Wampee Methodist Church (R.E. Bell, H.J. Holmes, and Robert Lewis, Jr.) from M.M. Ward for $360. This lot, a 125-foot square on the northern side of Highway 90, was previously the site of J.L. Bell’s store and the Union Valley Baptist Church. A 1920 deed incorrectly stated the lot was on the eastern side of the road.
Community and Personal Recollections
Mary Charles Mallory, a member since 1930–1931, was born on a nearby farm as one of 15 children. Her family raised cows, hogs, and chickens, with little money but ample food. Her father, Lucian D. Willard, and mother, Ora Causey, were part of a close-knit community. The Willard family ran a country store, originally near Highway 90 and later rebuilt at Nixon’s Crossroads (Highway 9 and Highway 90) after the government’s land acquisition. The store remains in business as a garden/landscaping store.
Mary Charles recalls that yards, including the church’s, had no grass in the early days, with packed earth kept clean by hoeing. Congregation members walked to church, and the community maintained the church grounds together. The annual Causey family reunion, a tradition for decades, continues near Ora’s family home on Coxis Ferry Road.
Unanswered Questions
•  When was the Union Valley Baptist Church formed, and how long did it exist?
•  When did the Union Valley Baptist Church burn down?
•  What is the precise year the current Wampee UMC was built (1942 or 1947)?
•  How long did J.L. Bell’s general store operate?
•  Why does the 1904 gravestone predate the 1906 deed?
Notes
•  A 1992 Sun News article may provide additional details or photographs.
•  The Wampee UMC was a vibrant “complete” church in 2006, with regular services, Sunday school, choirs, and active membership.
•  Efforts to locate photographs of the original church continue.
This rewritten history aims to clarify the timeline, land transactions, and community memories while highlighting gaps for further research.
Tom