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A Brief History of
Arsenal Hill Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church On December
23, 1883, a few members of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South
Carolina organized a “Mission Sabbath School” in the main building of the
State Agricultural Society at the old Fair Grounds located on Elmwood Avenue,
where Logan School now stands. In the Fall of 1884, before the next State Fair,
the group moved to the home of Dr. Thomas Kinkead. The group purchased a parcel
of land on Richland Street near Main Street, where they erected a chapel and
dedicated it on February 28, 1885. During that time
controversy arose concerning the theory of evolution. Locally, Dr. John L.
Girardeau, strongly anti-evolution and a faculty member at Columbia Theological
Seminary, was in strong debate with Dr. James Woodrow. Also, the congregation of
the First Presbyterian Church was searching for a pastor. When they called Dr.
Eugene Daniel, a strong supporter of Dr. Woodrow, a small group joined the group
at the Mission Sabbath School to form a new congregation, which was chartered by
the Charleston Presbytery on February 21, 1886, and named Second Presbyterian
Church. Dr. Girardeau was called to be the pastor and was installed April 25,
1886. The next April, he resigned due to “pressing duties at the seminary.”
On May 8, 1887, Rev George A. Blackburn was called to be the new pastor. In 1892 the
congregation purchased the present property from Dorcas Washington for $7,000.
Also, on March 30, 1892, Mr. Alexander Sutherland, a stonemason from Scotland,
joined the church and later built the present sanctuary. There being no
public schools in Columbia in 1892, the Presbyterian High School was established
in connection with the church and was housed “...in the little room in the
rear of the church.” Sometime in 1906 the school closed, because public
schools became available. On June 1, 1900,
they purchased additional property to the east and moved the church building and
manse in preparation for building the new church. During the time of moving,
services were held in Gospel Tabernacle. The cornerstone, a gift from Mr. and
Mrs. George Cotton Smith, was laid February 24, 1904. They held the church
dedication on March 19, 1905. They changed the name to Arsenal Hill at the
suggestion of Mr. G. C. Smith effective December 1907. Facing the
impending dissolution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States through
merger with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America,
Arsenal Hill sought membership in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
They received membership on May 17, 1983. Arsenal Hill made
significant contributions to the spiritual life of the community. The Columbia
Business Men’s Bible Class was the first adult Sunday school educational
program in the city, which met at the old Jefferson Hotel (now Jefferson
Square). The Women of the Church organization established the first local
program for women working outside the home. The denomination (PCUS) was
impressed by this ministry and developed it into a national program. Over the
years, the congregation sent numerous members into full time ministry as
ordained ministers and both lay and ordained missionaries. At the present time,
four of her sons are active in the pastoral ministry. Certain
outstanding principles have characterized the church life of Arsenal Hill’s
congregation: the Scriptures as the infallible rule of faith and practice,
simplicity of church worship, the spirituality of church membership, mission
emphasis, and genuine Christian fellowship.
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