Tag Archives: Camp

Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia

These photographs are from the Cypress Methodist Campgrounds in South Carolina. Yearly revival meetings have been held here since 1794, I don’t think a year has ever been missed. That means earthquakes, pandemics, and even civil war has not been enough to cancel the meetings.

Circuit Riders (ministers / preachers) made the rounds in the beginning however tents ultimately were replaced by cabins and a local Methodist Church administered to the parish.

Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia
Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia
Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia
Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia

There are 5 – 6 different campgrounds around South Carolina though we have only been able to reach 3 so far.

Outside parts of rural America few people know of their existence. I’ve talk to many and they had never heard of them. Searching on line I have sites mentioned in other areas, even New York State.

Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia
Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia

The cabins, still called tents, are family owned and passed down through generations. This is private property however we have been fortunate enough to have visited inside tents, it’s a snap shot of a time long gone.

From the photo above you can see there’s no water, there are privies for each tent. Electricity has been run to tents.

Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia
Camp Revival Meet, Monochrome Sepia

To view additional Campgrounds select ‘Camp’ from the list of tags on the web site, or just search on ‘Camp’. If I were ever to create a documentary photobook this would be the subject.

Cypress Methodist Campground, South Carolina.

More Cabins (2)

A few photographs here adding to the overall series of monochrome rural camp cabins.

More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)

This group was taken at the Methodist Campgrounds at Indian Fields, South Carolina.

More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)
More Cabins (2)

South Carolina.

Tabernacle Meeting House

We have visited several Methodist Camp Meeting grounds but I think this one is designed the closest to the biblical Israelite camp  descriptions.

Tabernacle Meeting House
Tabernacle Meeting House

The Tabernacle sits in encircled by 99 tents (cabins now).

Tabernacle Meeting House
Tabernacle Meeting House

Preachers ‘riding the circuit’  would give the sermons, attendees stayed in tents as described in the bible. These were known as revival meetings, now called camp meetings.

Tabernacle Meeting House
Tabernacle Meeting House

Every year, no matter pandemic, civil war, other disasters, a week of meetings is held. This included 2020.

If you are a southern Methodist you will have at least heard of revivals still being held. If not, seeing a camp is an extraordinary piece of history. On a shoot once we actually had a private helicopter land in a nearby field when the grounds were spotted from above.

Talk about odd, this Yankee gave a small (respectful) tour of the camp explaining the history.

Tabernacle Meeting House
Tabernacle Meeting House
Tabernacle Meeting House
Tabernacle Meeting House

Indian Fields Camp Ground, South Carolina.

Indian Fields, SC

Since the camp and cabins (tents) here date back to the early 1800’s shooting/publishing in color doesn’t usually fit.

These buildings are raw and the images I shoot when visiting try to reflect that.

Indian Fields, SC
Indian Fields, SC

Inside some of the materials are still from the first build. This section around 1848.

Indian Fields, SC
Indian Fields, SC
Indian Fields, SC
Indian Fields, SC

There are 99 cabins, called tents, laid out to circle a Tabernacle as described in the Bible. At one point I knew the chapter…long gone from my head LOL.

Indian Fields, SC
Indian Fields, SC

There was still a camp meeting in 2020.

The Old Stove Pipes

Old rusted stove pipes always get my attention, it’s a throw back to the way things were. Except in these places. Here they are for cooking, heating, and living when in the cabins.

The Old Stove Pipes
The Old Stove Pipes

I am of that ‘age’ where I know how it feels to touch one, when you shouldn’t.

The Old Stove Pipes
The Old Stove Pipes
The Old Stove Pipes
The Old Stove Pipes

Times have changed and now I see them for how well they age and color in photographs.

A small slice of America, Indian Fields Methodist Camp.