Church in which he officiated, had formerly been a Chapel of Ease to St. James'. It was built of wood, but was old, and unfit for use, as well from its ruinous condition, as from its insufficiency for the number of worshippers. The inhabitants, therefore, petitioned for a new Parish Church; and an Act was accordingly passed May 19, 1762, appointing John Pamor, Charles Cantey, Philip Porcher, Joseph Pamor, Peter Sinkler, Peter Porcher, Thomas Cooper, Rene Peyre and Samuel Cordes, Commissioners to receive Subscriptions; to build the Church on any part of the Land in St. Stephen, then used for a Churchyard, and to dispose of the Pews.

The Church is one of the handsomest Country Churches in So. Ca. and would be no mean ornament to Charleston. It is built of brick, and neatly finished. It stands on the main River road, about twelve and a half miles from the Santee Canal. The N. and S. sides are ornamented with six Doric Pilasters, and each end with four of the same Order. Upon a brick at the South side is inscribed A. Howard, Ser. 1767; and on another, F. Villepontoux, Ser. 7, 1767; the names of the Architects. At the East end is a large sashed Window, and the usual Tables of the Commandments, &c. At the West end is a large Gallery, pewed. There are 45 Pews on the ground floor, which is tiled. It has a handsome mahogany Pulpit; on the front pannel, are the Initials I. H. S. The ceiling is finished in the same style as that of St. Michael's, in Charleston.

Mr. Keith left the Province in 1773, and was succeeded by the Rev. Alexander Finlay, who continued here until his death in 1783. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Hurt, who remained in this cure until 1786. After his removal, Mr. Joseph S. Thompson, who had been for many years a tutor in the Parish, read the service of the Church for two years. The Rev. James O'Farrel removed into this Parish from St.

Matthew's, in April 1789, and continued to officiate for two years, when he returned to his former resi dence. The Church remained vacant until 1797, when the Rev. James Connor was elected Rector. He resigned in 1802. The Church being again vacant, the Clergy of the city visited it occasionally. In 1809, Mr. Charles Blair Snowden, officiated as a Lay-Reader, and being Ordained the following spring, was elected Minister of the Parish. He officiated at the Church in Pineville, and the upper and middle St. John's. Mr. Snowden resigned in 1817. Mr. David Irving Campbell, while preparing for Orders, officiated as a Lay-Reader, in 1818, at the Church in Pineville. He was Ordained Deacon, Jan. 6, 1819, by Bishop Bowen of this Diocess, and was elected the Minister of the three Churches.

Pineville is a healthy summer retreat for the inhabitants of St. Stephen's. It was settled in 1794 by six families. The number increased yearly, and now, [1819,] the village contains 26 houses, and an Academy built in 1805. The number of white inhabitants vary annually, between 160 and 182. The children at the Academy and private schools, are between 50 and 60, and since the commencement of the former in 1806, but eight of its members have died, and four of these in the present year. Since the first settlement of the village, there have been 244 children born, of whom 162 are now living; the others died under five years of age.

The Parish Church was completely repaired a few years ago; but it has neither Incumbent nor congregation. Nor is it probable that it will soon have either. The lands in its neighbourhood are either worn out, or subject to such dangerous freshets, that the country round the Church is abandoned. But it was painful to the inhabitants, and to many who had formerly lived here, to see a noble edifice falling into ruins, * See Ramsay's So. Ca. II. 312.

In

where a large congregation had once worshipped. honour of Him, whose Temple it is, they had it completely repaired at an expense of $800. Around it are a number of tombstones, that cover the remains of some of the most respectable inhabitants of the country. The family of the Gaillards lie here interred.

The Communion Plate consists of a Chalice and Paten, on which is engraved For St. Stephen's Parish 1759. The Church was Incorporated, Feb. 29, 1788. The Journals of the Vestry are lost. In 1819, St. Stephen's contained 440 white inhabitants.

CHAPTER XVI.

St. Matthew's Parish.

THE Inhabitants of the upper part of Berkley County, having greatly increased, it became necessary to provide them with the Ordinances of Religion. An Act was passed, April 12, 1768, for establishing a new Parish in this County, to be called St. Matthew's. A similar Act had passed Aug. 9, 1765. The bounds of the Parish were thus defined: "by running a line from the plantation of Gerard Neilson, on Santee River, inclusive, to the place where the new road, leading from the plantation of Tacitus Gaillard, Esq. to the road leading from Charles-Town to Orangeburgh, intersects the line that divides the Parish of St. George, Dorchester, from St. James', Goose-Creek; and from thence to continue on the said line until it intersects the 4 Hole-Creek the second time; thence following the said Creek, till it intersects the S. E. bounds of Orangeburgh township; and from thence, along the bounds of the said township, to the southward, and where that line reaches Edisto River, up the Course of the said river, until the N. W. boundary of the said township, from the river, a N. E. course, along the line of the township, until it joins the S. W. bounds of Amelia township; and from thence a N. E. course, till it reaches Beaver-Creek." A Church, Chapel and Parsonage-House were directed to be

built, in such places as the Commissioners should deem convenient, and another Chapel was ordered to be built in that part of the Parish called Orangeburgh Township.* For the latter, Gavin Pou, Capt. Christopher Rowe, Samuel Rowe, William Young and Andrew Govan, were appointed Commissioners. And for the former, Benjamin Ferrar, Col. William Thomson, William Heatley, Thomas Platt, Tacitus Gaillard, Thomas Sabb, John Bordell, John Caldwell, Robert Whitten, William Flood, and John M'Nichol. The Commissioners were authorized to receive subscriptions, and to purchase a Glebe. The Rector or Minister was required to officiate in said Church and Chapels, alternately, and be elected, and receive the same salary as Ministers of other Country Parishes. The Church was built of. wood near a large creek, called the half-way-swamp, on the public road from Charleston to Columbia, by M'Cord's ferry. It was 40 feet long by 30 wide.

The Rev. Paul Turquand was the only settled Minister in this Parish before the Revolutionary War. We are indebted to the politeness of Col. Edward Richardson, for some account of this gentleman.

Mr. Turquand was born in London of French ancestors, in 1735. At the age of 14 or 15, his father was desirous that he should study Physic, but having been seriously impressed with the importance of religion, he had determined to devote himself to the Ministry, in the Church of England. To avoid a Profession, which neither his heart nor his judgement approved, he clandestinely left his Parents and came to Carolina. Here he flattered himself that he could indulge his pious inclinations, and prepare himself for Holy Orders. Soon after his arrival he went to George-Town, and took charge of a School. Having prepared him

Orangeburgh was settled by a colony of Germans in the year 1735. In 1738 the Rev John Giessendanner settled there. He was a Minister of the Lutheran Church, but in 1749 he went to England and received Episcopal Ordination from Dr. Sherlock, Bishop of London. He was Ordained a Deacon, Aug. 27th, and Priest, Sept. 24th, 1749. He returned to this district, and died in 1761.