Serving the Community for Many Years

Here on the old stage coach road connectingCharleston to Savannah, the Anglican Pon Pon Chapel of Ease served the Jacksonborough community for many years. The parish of St.Bartholomew's was established in 1706, however its first minister, the Reverend Nathaniel Osborne, did not arrive until 1713. An act of theGeneral Assembly provided for a Chapel of Easein 1725 and Vestry ordered a brick building toreplace the wooden chapel.

During a visit in April 1737, John Wesley, thefounder of the Methodist Church, preached twice at the chapel. (Picture included) Wesleywrote in his diary about how impressed he was to have had so many from so far to hear his gospel.

Unfortunately, this church was burned during the American Revolution. According to some records, it was rebuilt between 1819and 1822, (Picture included) and was used until 1832 when it was again destroyed by fire. The site is often referred to today as "The Burnt Church." No effort was made to rebuildthe chapel.

Family members continued to use thecemetery. Buried in the cemetery areO'Brien Smith and Aedanus Burke.Smith, the owner of Duharra Plantation,entertained George Washington in 1791and both Smith and Burke served in thelegislature.

( Photograph of Pon Pon Chapel ruins prior to stabilization)
The chapel and four acres weredeeded to the Colleton HistoricalSociety in 1970 to celebrate theTricentennial of South Carolina. Withadditional interest, the Society receiveda grant from S.C. Archives and Historyin 1975 to repair the wall of the chapelwhich had been severely damaged byhurricane Gracie in 1959. The Societyin cooperation with others holdsvarious events on the site throughoutthe year.

(Map of 1775 showing location of earliest St. Bartholomew's chapel on Chehaw)

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Ruins of Pon Pon Chapel of Ease
Colonel Issac Hayne
Martyr Of The Revolution / Hayne Hall
Fateful Choices - The Hanging Of Isaac Hayne
Bethel Presbyterian Church
The Burial Site of Captain John Herbert Dent
Pon Pon Chapel
Battle Of Parker's Ferry
Old Jacksonborough
Edmundsbury

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