Our History

The Late Deacon John Troy McQueen – Historian

It is not known the year Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Bennettsville, South Carolina was organized. All indications give the belief that it began around 1850. This fact cannot be substantiated because African Americans were not allowed to own property during the slavery period in America. Through oral traditions, we’ve been told that our ancestors worshipped under a “Bush Harbor” or “Hush Harbor” during this period.

The earliest deed documented in the Marlboro County Courthouse was dated march 28, 1901 (Deed Book #8, page 21). It was a deed from J. Napolean Bonepart selling four acres of land to Trustees: Robert McCrea, Preston Williams, and Benjamin McRae Jr.

Among the three oldest tombstones standing in the church cemetery today, give a clue that the church was in existence during slavery period. The oldest tombstones inscriptions were Eunice Scarborough (1834 – 1909), Reverend Sampson Illery (1844 – 1929) and Henry Brown (1860 – 1905).