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Bethesda Presbyterian
Church
Camden
The Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Camden was
designed by the distinguished architect, Robert Mills, in
1820. It is of red brick with circular headed windows and
gable roof. Mills, in his Statistics of South Carolina (1826),
says the building has "a portico of four Doric columns in
front and a neat spire in the rear, containing a bell—the
floor and pews rise as they recede from the pulpit, giving
every advantage to the audience, both in seeing and hearing."
As originally the fashion in most churches of the period, the
pews have gates.
On land bequeathed by Joseph Kershaw,
the Presbyterians built Camden's first church about 1771. This
first building was destroyed during the Revolutionary
War.
The DeKalb monument, which stands in the front
churchyard was also designed by Robert Mills and was dedicated
in 1825 by Lafayette, whom Baron DeKalb accompanied to America
in 1777. DeKalb, who fell in the Battle of Camden, was in
command of the American Army in the South until replaced by
Gates.
The historic trowel used by Lafayette in laying
the cornerstone of the DeKalb monument was made for that
purpose by Mr. Alexander Young, of Camden. The blade was of
solid silver, and the handle of ivory. Engraved on this trowel
was the following inscription: "Made for Brother Lafayette to
lay the Cornerstone of DeKalb's monument, 1825."
BY
HAZEL CROWSON SELLERS
South Carolina Churches
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