ST. DAVID'S, OF CHERAW, RESUMES EPISCOPAL SERVICES THIS SUNDAY
On this Sunday, August 7, 2022, the first Episcopal Church service since the schism of 2012 will be held in St. David's Episcopal Church, Cheraw SC. After nearly a decade in the wilderness, the intrepid and faithful Episcopalians of Cheraw and nearby areas will go home to their beautiful church. For years, the Episcopal worshiping group has been meeting in a local bank.
The previous occupants, the clergyman of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, and his followers, departed St. David's property last Sunday and will now be meeting in Wesley United Methodist Church, a couple of blocks away.
St. David's has a day school on its property. The school is set to open for the new academic year right on schedule, on August 15, 2022.
The service this Sunday will be conducted by the Rev. Mike Bye, priest of the worshiping group. This Sunday and the next few Sundays, the congregation plans to held services at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel which is on the side of the church.
On September 11, St. David's plans a special service in the church proper as a sort of festival homecoming.
As of now, there will be no livestreaming of the services from St. David's, but this is subject to change. Meanwhile, their new Facebook page is under construction and should be available presently.
I will be there on Sunday in spirit if not in person and I hope the friends and neighbors of the Episcopalians of Cheraw will join in and support this return home after so many long and hard years away.
St. David's is one of seven parishes that the SC Supreme Court declared property of the Episcopal Church. One of these has already resumed Episcopal services, St. John's, of Johns Island. In another, the present occupants are preparing to evacuate the property after August 28, Christ Church of Mt. Pleasant. To my knowledge, the other four parishes have not announced plans for the transfers.
This still leaves seven other parishes in limbo awaiting a ruling from the state supreme court. This could come at any time.
Meanwhile, this Sunday let us all lift up my friend Janet Clark, Phil Powell, Sarah Spruill, and all the heroic church people of Cheraw who kept the faith for so long when it was not an easy thing to do. They have earned all of our prayers and support.
