HISTORY
HISTORY OF LYNCHBURG AND THE LYNCHBURG CEMETERY AND CHURCH
The Lynchburg Presbyterian Church, located in South Lynchburg, South Carolina, stands as both a spiritual and cultural landmark of the region. Its origins are closely tied to the movement of Scots and Scotch-Irish families into the area during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many of the early church’s congregants were descendants of Ulster Scots, who migrated from Scotland to Northern Ireland under King James I’s settlement policies. Later, they moved, to America. These settlers carried with them Presbyterian traditions, resilience, and a devotion to religious and civic life that became foundational in Lynchburg.
EARLY YEARS OF THE TOWN OF LYNCHBURG, AND TODAY
1854 was a pivotal moment in the town’s history. In that year, a railroad was built a mile north of the original Lynchburg settlement. The new rail-centered community adopted the name Lynchburg, while the original town became known as South Lynchburg. The early development of Lynchburg is described in the detailed essay by Howard F. Vincent, Sr
The town thrived while the railroad was operational. A passenger train passed through and stopped several times each day. Other trains came through to pick up local cotton that was grown and ginned here. Bales of ginned cotton were stacked along the entire depot platform, and the local children enjoyed “playing on” these bales during summer days. Trains also transported other farm-grown produce, such as soybeans, corn, and baled hay. (Read this website’s newspaper article, below, for more details.) When the Wilmington-Manchester Railroad Company closed, the tracks, which ran along Main Street, were removed and replaced with a grass mall. A monument was later installed, with the help of the American Legion Post 140, to honor the town’s citizens who have served in the military.
RAILROAD TRACKS AND STATION
MEMORIES OF MAIN STREET, PAST AND TODAY
OLD DAYS OF LYNCHBURG
SCHOOL DAYS
AFTER HURRICANE HUGO, 1989
HOMES OF LYNCHBURG, 2025
TANGLEWOOD PLANTATION
This is the ancestral antebellum home of Senator Ellison Durant Smith, who was known as “Cotton Ed”. It is located 3.5 miles south of Lynchburg on Highway 341, and the three-story residence and outbuildings remain today.
LYNCHBURG IN BLOOM, 1997
THE CAROLINA FENCE
The Lee Gardeners (Lynchburg’s long-standing garden club) initiated the Carolina Fence Project in 2004 and has maintained it ever since. Special thanks go to member Barbara Stewart McElveen for her many years of work to keep it “blooming”. The fence is located at the center of Lynchburg, where Highway 76 intersects Highway 341.
HISTORICAL NOTES AND EXCERPTS
Click below to read Chapter XII and The Diary of Samuel Catawba Lowry
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH AND EARLY YEARS
The church was officially organized in 1855 by twenty-one charter members. Because they lacked a dedicated building, the group first met in a nearby Methodist church. That same year, with the assistance of neighbors, they constructed their own sanctuary. The building, a simple yet striking example of Greek Revival architecture, was made of hand-hewn pine and featured galleries on either side. The church has remained one of the few surviving structures from the original town and quickly became a central institution for worship and community gatherings. Rev. W.W. Wilson, a native of Ireland, served as the first pastor. He is buried in the cemetery.
ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The church’s Greek Revival style reflects the aspirations of its builders, combining elegance with simplicity in keeping with Presbyterian ideals. Its survival for more than a century and a half is a testament to both the quality of its construction and the devotion of its congregation. In recognition of its architectural and historic value, the church and its cemetery were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. A detailed description by Howard F. Vincent can be found here.
THE CEMETERY
Alongside the church lies its cemetery, a repository of local history. Many graves belong to early settlers of Scottish and Scotch-Irish descent, whose surnames trace back to both Highland clans and Lowland districts in Scotland. The cemetery also contains the graves of Confederate veterans, elders, and prominent community members. Among them is Captain Francis J. DesChamps, a ruling elder in the church who died in 1878, and Dr. Joseph M. Sanders, another Confederate veteran. The cemetery continues to serve as a genealogical and historical resource, linking present generations with their ancestors.
CULTURAL AND COMUNITY INFLUENCE
The church and cemetery not only anchored South Lynchburg spiritually but also reflected the broader patterns of settlement and culture in the region. The Scotch-Irish influence was profound: their Presbyterian faith shaped education, work ethic, and political leanings. Many local families— McLeod, McElveen, McMillan, and others—carried surnames rooted in Scottish districts or clans, reinforcing a sense of shared heritage. Their contributions to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and civic development underscored their integration into American life while maintaining ties to ancestral traditions.
LEGACY
Today, Lynchburg Cemetery and Church remain enduring symbols of faith, perseverance, and heritage. As one of the oldest surviving institutions in the area, the church not only reflects the religious devotion of its founders but also embodies the cultural legacy of the Scots and Scotch-Irish settlers who significantly influenced the development of the Pee Dee region. Preserved through community efforts and historical recognition, it continues to embody the story of South Lynchburg and its people.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are grateful to many who have been instrumental in the preservation of our cemetery, church, and grounds, including, among others: The McLeod, Rhame, Harker, Vincent, Vassy, Hickson, and Tomlinson families. We note with deep appreciation the service of Penny Hickson Tallon as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Lynchburg Cemetery Association, Inc., for 26+ years. Many other distinguished families have made significant contributions to the cemetery, community, and state; we invite them to register their stories in the Memorial section elsewhere on cemetery page.