One Family’s Connection to Wesley Chapel
After posting my initial photos of Wesley Chapel I was put in touch with Lowell Manning, Jr. of Florence, SC. Lowell is the son of Mattie Harris Manning and grandson of Dewey and Vesta Harris. After exchanging several e-mails Lowell said that his mother and sister, Ava Dover, would like to meet me and maybe give me some more information about the church.
Mattie Manning grew up in the Wilkinsville Community and was a long time member of Wesley Chapel. Her late husband, Lowell Manning, Sr., was the latest to be buried in the church cemetery in 2020. She and the family would love to see the church site preserved.
Mattie is a currently a member of Dunton Methodist Church in Gaffney. In 1991 the church celebrated Mattie H. Manning Day for her long career in education and for her service to that church.
I arranged to meet Lowell, Mattie, and Lowell’s sister Ava (aka Deani) at the church site on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. It was a rainy afternoon, but we still made the rendezvous.
Mattie told me about growing up in the church and in the community. She said that she had attended a one room school across the street from the church. At first I thought this must be the Ebenezer School where Willie Corry had taught, but Mattie corrected me. Ebenezer was further north. This school was known as Wesley Chapel School, associated with the church. On my Cherokee County map posted earlier this is the school listed as “Wilkinsville Sch. N.” I was able to find a picture of the school in the Gaffney Ledger.
Mattie told me about the first church that she remembered, which was the wood frame church built in 1915. She said that some members of the congregation weren’t too happy with Willie Corry’s plans for the new church. Apparently they didn’t like the idea of a concrete block structure.
According to Mattie Manning, the new church didn’t have a piano or organ. However, there was singing. I think back to the announcements about the singing schools and singing conventions held at the church and I know that music was an important aspect.
We chatted about our mutual careers as elementary school teachers. Mattie had taught fifth grade for many years in Cherokee County. I told her that I had taught fourth grade and we compared stories.
Lowell and Deani pointed out the graves and identified family relationships. There were grandparents, aunts and uncles and other relatives buried there. Deani and Lowell said that their family had been paying to maintain the cemetery and keep it cut.
When I spoke of Willie Corry, Deani said that she remembered seeing his grave on the church property and remembered that there was some sort of planter on top of it. While I was talking with Mattie and Deani, Lowell was able to find Corry’s grave, exactly as described.
At 94, Mattie Manning is still very active, though now having some trouble getting around. She reminded me very much of my own mother, who would have been about the same age as Mattie. It was a delight talking with her and getting to know her family.
The family would love to see this site preserved. Lowell and I have been in touch with several organizations to see what options exist. The main problem is in establishing ownership of the property. Neither the AME or UMC denominations have been able to identify a trustee or other person responsible. I have the names of the mortuaries who have been responsible for recent burials here and they should have some records. However, I’m hesitant to bring up the issue. Matting Manning would like to be buried with her husband at Wesley Chapel, and if we bring up too many questions about ownership, that might put those plans in jeopardy. There is no way on earth I’d want that to happen.
I spoke with Bill Fitzpatrick about the site. Bill and I serve on the board of the South Carolina Picture Project and have similar interests in photography and historic documentation. Bill has worked on the Sacred Spaces project and now serves as interim director of Palmetto Preservation. He concurred that establishing ownership is always a challenge. They are facing this issue with nearby Mulberry Chapel, which I have visited on several occasions. Even if they were able to establish ownership the site doesn’t qualify for assistance under Palmetto Preservation guidelines. The building must be in a condition where it can be restore. Wesley Chapel is too far gone. It also doesn’t meet the qualifications for historical significance. Finally, there has to be community buy-in to continue maintenance of the site.
Grant Mishoe from the African American Burial Ground Restoration Project expressed some interest in the church. The biggest question he had was whether or not there were hidden, unknown graves on the site and suggested that ground penetrating radar might provide some answers. He cautioned that with the question of ownership unanswered, if the county were to take possession of the property they might decide to demolish the church building as a hazard, which would be a shame.
Lowell and I agree that the church structure itself is too far gone for complete restoration. Ideally, the family would like to see the property cleared and the structure stabilized, similar to Sheldon Church or the Biggins Church ruins. Lowell has also contacted the Chicora Foundation, which specializes in historical research and cemetery preservation. We’ll have to see what options present themselves as we move forward.
But, in the meantime, it was a delight meeting the Manning Family. I am pleased that they have taken such an interest in this church’s heritage and have already done so much to preserve it.
Continued on the next page…
If you go back to do a “rubbing” of the plaque, try using tracing paper and charcoal, it is more sensitive, and should reproduce better.
Actually, since then I have gotten charcoal and better paper. I had to use what was available at the time.
Will you email me I have a few questions and interesting information concerning the area thanks mullinax527@gmail.com
Thanks for the article. I enjoyed learning the history of the church and following your path of research.
Shaving cream and a squeegee work well in revealing inscriptions on old stones. First I wet the surface with water from a pump sprayer, second I apply shaving cream to the surface and third I draw the squeegee across the stone to spread the cream and reveal the engraving. After recording and photographing the inscription, I thoroughly rinse the stone with water to remove the cream. Works great!
I am just reading this. Just know that shaving cream can damage stone. This is method is not recommended by conservators. While this church is in ruins, it may seem less necessary to save.