4/17/08
Summerton Presbyterian Church celebrates 101 years and renovations
By Jerriod Grizzle

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

Pastor of the Summerton Presbyterian Church, Rev. Garland Hart stands outside the church near its historical marker April 10. April 20 marks the church’s 101st birthday.

Through four months of hammering, sawing, plastering and putting down carpet, Rev. Garland Hart, pastor of the Summerton Presbyterian Church, looked at all the work that had been done on his chuch’s precious sanctuary and declared it good. After church on Sunday, April 20, “the church will dedicate to the glory of God the renovations.”

April 20 marks another occasion for the 101-year-old church – its birthday.

“We have had a number of things done, redone and put in,” said Hart.

Some of the renovations included taking out the drop ceiling in the chapel and raising it 30 inches. The plaster was repaired in the chapel and all the walls painted in both the chapel and the sanctuary.

Hart said he was especially proud of the pews and the new carpet.

“We refinished the pews and replaced the carpets all at once. The pews were squeaking and had nails sticking out. They needed to be reinforced and redone. We also took up the old green carpet and put down burgundy carpet in its place,” he said. “It was just time for a facelift.”

Hart said so far the congregation has fallen in love with the church’s new look.

“The Session (governing body of the church) took a call to action and everyone supported it because it needed to be done,” he said.

The congregation had the chance to worship in their renovated sanctuary on Easter Sunday.

Former pastor of the church Rev. William Troutman will be the guest speaker for the occasion. A covered dish lunch will be served following the service. The church will provide barbecue and fried chicken for the luncheon.

Hart said that members, friends, and former members are invited to attend and celebrate the anniversary and the dedication.