Old Bethel AME Church

Located in McClellanville, SC, a charming historic fishing village located approximately 24 miles to the south of Georgetown, Old Bethel AME Church stands as a testament to history. Established in 1867, it holds the distinction of being McClellanville's oldest African American Episcopal (AME) church. The rapid expansion of the AME church across the Southern United States occurred in the wake of the Civil War, a time when emancipated slaves gained the freedom to establish their own faith communities. This church's founding is often attributed to Richard Cain, a prominent AME pastor renowned for his role in establishing multiple churches within the denomination across the Lowcountry region. (Submitted by Dan Gross)