Tag Archives: Camp

Cypress Methodist Camp (2)

In the Lowcountry the 1700’s to the 1800’s were the time of rich plantation owners, huge plantations, slavery, and war.

Often forgotten were the rural farmers working to survive. The Camp Grounds around Methodist Churches was all about bring them together in a single location.

Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)

As it was explained to us, there is a lot of history here, but little written or saved. It has been handed down through the years.

Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)

Traveling preachers came through for the meetings, people first gathered in tents, then cabins were built when the meetings took on a more permanent nature.

These are some of those cabins. This meeting ground serves 4 local communities, and has since the 1780’s. Many of these ‘tents’ are the original, repairs are made but the rule is simple and tents are based on the first ones built.

Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)

Over time electricity was brought in, water and ‘necessities’ are still out back.

Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)

The tents here are in a rectangle all facing the open sided Tabernacle. Other remaining camps in the south are similar. I was once told there is a description of settlements in the old testament of the Bible which some have followed.

Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)

The cabins are owned by families in the area, many passed down through generations.

Meetings are held once a year in the fall. They are approximately a week long.

Cypress Methodist Camp (2)
Cypress Methodist Camp (2)

We appreciate the hospitality of Cypress Methodist for allowing us to visit and photograph the grounds and Church.

 

Cypress Methodist Camp (1), The Tabernacle

This is a multi part article, the subject and photographs are too large not to be.

General Background

In the late 1700’s, after the US revolutionary war, traveling preachers ‘rode the circuit’ visiting rural communities. They have been called revivals or camp meetings.

These were rural communities where record keeping was secondary to survival. History has been passed between the generations. Recently we were fortunate to have revisited with the current church, which still maintains a yearly camp meeting.

Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)

There are several other functioning camp meetings in South Carolina. Other articles, and camps, are on this web site.

The Tabernacle

Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)

At center of a camp ground is the Tabernacle, an open sided building for services and meetings. In a square, or rectangle, around the Tabernacle are the ‘tents’ or cabins where members stay for the time of the meetings. here a week a year.

The Tabernacle and Tents are rustic and by design little changed from the original structure. Families have owned their tents for generations. While some have been damaged and rebuilt, others are originals dating back over 200 years.

Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)

Above is both the Tabernacle and some of the Tents.

Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)

The inside of the Tabernacle is filled with wooden pews and a straw floor. Electricity has been added at some time.

Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)

The roof is a more modern tin, or metal.

Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)

The pulpit is a simple raised brick floor.

Cypress Methodist Camp (1)
Cypress Methodist Camp (1)

Above is the Tabernacle seen from inside the doorway of a Tent.

Additional articles will be published documenting the Tents, inside and out, as well as the Church that owns the camp grounds and was gracious enough to allow us this visit.

 

Cypress Campground Tents

These are several of the ‘Tents’, cabins, within a Methodist campground. They are individually owned and passed down through the generations. Several here are hundreds of years old.

Cypress Campground Tents
Cypress Campground Tents

They are repaired, changed a little inside, but nothing major is added / removed. Even hinges on doors may be the original hand wrought iron fixtures. Beams are the old hand cut trees.

Electricity has been added over the years, water is still from a shared central hand pump.

Meetings, like old traveling preachers days, are yearly.

Country Cabin, A Tent

The ‘tent’ camp meetings were started when a traveling preacher did the ‘riding circuits’ of the small southern communities.

The campgrounds began in the late 1700’s. Several still exist, and have camp meetings.

Country Cabin, A Tent
Country Cabin, A Tent

Meetings are held here mid September each year as they have for several hundred years.

This was our second visit to this camp and we were able to get even more detailed information. It is quite an experience to wander and photograph living history.

Cypress Campgrounds Tabernacle

Different views, and perspective, of the same location. This is the outdoor tabernacle of the Cypress Methodist Camp.

Cypress Campgrounds Tabernacle - click to enlarge
Cypress Campgrounds Tabernacle – click to enlarge

The location has been in use for a yearly revival camp for over 200 years.

Cypress Campgrounds Tabernacle - click to enlarge
Cypress Campgrounds Tabernacle – click to enlarge