FAIRVIEW SOUTHERN METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY, Oconee County, SC
A.K.A. Fairview Union Church (C234)

Version 2.2, 18-Apr-2002, C070.TXT, C70


****************************************************************

REPRODUCING NOTICE:
-------------------
These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for 
profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons.  
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must 
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal 
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb 
archivist with proof of this consent.

Paul M Kankula - nn8nn
Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator
 
****************************************************************

DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Apr-2002
                   Linda Flynn at (visit above website) in Apr-2002

G.P.S. MAPPING . : ____________ at ____________ in _______ 

HISTORY WRITE-UP : Wilma W. Thompson of Seneca

IMAGES ......... : ____________ at ____________ in _______ 

TRANSCRIPTION .. : ____________ at ____________ in _______ 


CEMETERY LOCATION:
------------------

>

Latitude N__ __.___ x Longitude W__ __.___


CHURCH/CEMETERY HISTORY:
------------------------

Fairview Church was organized on August 1, 1857, when John Cannon had a vision 
to build a Union Church in the community. He donated a two-acre tract of land to 
the Fairview Community. It was known as the Fairview Union Church, a union 
church because he and his wife were of different Protestant denominations.

Older members remember the original structure was located on the site of the 
picnic shelter. It was a saltbox log building; the only lighting from candles 
and windows. It was furnished with homemade backless benches, a pump organ, and 
a fireplace.

Around 1895, it was destroyed by fire. There was no insurance and little money. 
Folks gave what they could to replace the building in the present location. It 
was a small building now used as the sanctuary. Later additions included a 
pulpit area in 1913, classroom wings 1917, vestibule in 1920, three classrooms 
and basement in 1960.

There were few frills, but the best loved was the old wood stove in the middle 
of the sanctuary.  Charlie Burton was paid $.10 a week to light the fire. 
Catherine Boggs kept fresh flowers. The offering averaged $1.50. That was the 
preacher's salary. In the 1960s, the church began to purchase the frills - an 
organ, pews, central heating, restrooms, and central air conditioning.

The Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians used the building for their services 
until the 1920s. Since then, Fairview Union Church has housed only the 
Methodists, and became known as Fairview United Methodist Church.  In 1970, the 
congregation sought admission into the Southern Methodist Denomination; thus the 
Fairview Union Church became known as Fairview Southern Methodist Church.  It 
still remains a union church and belongs to the community.

As the church grew, space was needed for the young people to meet. In 1986, a 
fund in memory of Michael Clark was started. After many prayers, offerings, and 
much hard work, on October 30, 1994, the new Education Fellowship Hall was 
dedicated.

Submitted by: Wilma W. Thompson, 204 Shoreline Drive, Seneca, SC 29672.


TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES:
------------------------------

a. = age at death
b. = date-of-birth
d. = date-of-death
h. = husband
m. = married
p. = parents
w. = wife


>