Buying a new home is a big deal. For many homeowners, it's one of the most important decisions they ever make. When it comes to such a substantial choice, there are a lot of factors to consider, like:
Getting the answers to those questions can be hard but finding a trustworthy manufactured home company can be even more challenging. Sure, you could settle for a fly-by-night company or a shady mobile home dealer. But if you're like most folks, you want to work with a reliable company that has been in business for years. You need a team of professionals who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and sell you a quality home that will keep your family safe and sound.
Welcome to Ken-Co Homes Inc. - your premier choice for mobile home sales in Stateburg, SC. Ken-Co Homes has been Lake City's go-to manufactured home since 1974. With several locations in South Carolina, we're the first choice for manufactured homes in the state. As longtime locals in the community, we pride ourselves on honesty, hard work, and running a manufactured home business that you can count on.
There's no secret sauce that makes Ken-Co Homes successful. We work hard, sell the finest Clayton, Destiny, Scotbilt, Homes, and treat our customers like we would like to be treated. That's why, when you meet our team for your home tour, you'll be treated with respect and greeted with a warm smile. Whether you have questions regarding financing or the fit and finish of a floorplan, we'll maintain that same level of kindness, courtesy, and honesty. That way, you know for sure that you have invested in a top-notch manufactured home that your family will love.
Unlike other manufactured home dealers, we have a full selection of Clayton Homes for sale with attractive floor plans to fit your unique lifestyle. When you choose Ken-Co Homes, you're also choosing:
We offer our valued customers a $500 guarantee that we will meet or beat ANY competitor who has a lower price on one of our homes with the same options. Don't believe us? Contact our office today!
With decades of combined experience, our team has the tools and know-how to make your buying process smooth and stress-free.
Buying a home can be challenging, especially with travel logistics and other factors at play. Our team can help answer any questions you have about buying a home and transporting it to a park or piece of private land.
When you buy from Ken-Co Homes, you're investing in a high-quality product that your family will love for years to come. With more than a dozen home choices, you're sure to find a new home that matches your lifestyle.
We'll work with you one-on-one to ensure you get the home of your dreams. If you have questions or concerns once you move in, give us a call - we're here to help.
We offer detail-oriented, experienced set-up crews that make living life in your new home easy and efficient.
At Ken-Co Homes, we offer flexible financing options to help make buying your dream home a reality.
Whether you're looking for a smaller two-bedroom manufactured home or a large, luxurious four-bedroom manufactured home, our friendly consultants are ready to help you build the home of your dreams.
"Is there a difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?" is one of the most common questions we get online and in person. Today, many people use mobile home and manufactured home interchangeably. That's understandable because both types of homes share similar features and benefits for homeowners. However, understanding the minor differences can be valuable when searching for a new place to call home.
Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes are built in a factory. Once completed, they're shipped to a specific location where the homeowner will live. The term "manufactured home" refers to any factory-built home constructed after June 15, 1976. That date is when the HUD or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented guidelines centered around manufactured home construction.
HUD code requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a base frame with wheels with a minimum of 320 square feet.
Thanks to fast build times and lower material costs, manufactured homes for sale in Stateburg, SC is often more cost-effective for home buyers. Compared to traditional site-built homes, many manufactured homes can be up to 35% less than more traditional houses.
Any mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, are considered manufactured homes today, though many people use the term mobile home casually. In the past, these homes were used to travel and were more like the expensive RVs that people use today than true manufactured homes. Back then, mobile homes received a bad reputation due to poor build quality, but they've come a long way since that time. Today, mobile homes are safe, comfortable, and structurally sound, with many types of amenities and floor plans.
Manufactured homes are more popular in the U.S. than ever, and for good reason: prospective homeowners are looking for affordable, quality alternatives to traditional homes. That's especially true today, with inflation on the rise, necessitating more budget-friendly options for anyone who wants to put a roof over their heads.
If you're used to living in a traditional, site-built home, you may be wondering what the advantages are of buying a manufactured home. Here are just a few of the most common benefits of buying a manufactured home:
When you boil it down to the basics, buying a new home is all about the money. One of the most attractive reasons for buying a manufactured home is that they are often much less expensive than traditional site-built homes. Today, manufactured housing is considered a crucial part of the housing shortage solution and a viable option with inflation rising. According to statistics, the average square-foot cost of a site-built home is $107, while the average price is only $49 in a manufactured home. Whether you're sticking to a strict budget or your finances have changed due to poor economic conditions, going manufactured might be your best choice.
Owning a manufactured home gives the homeowner long-term living options. Because basic manufactured homes are usually very affordable, families with enough land can start with a small home and add additional units as their needs change. Manufactured homes are also great as starter homes, especially for families that plan on building a permanent structure on their land in the future. Though it could be logistically challenging, manufactured homes can also be moved to a different site if the initial one was on rented property.
Manufactured homes have received a bad rap over the last few decades. In reality, most manufactured homes are purpose-built for longevity with structural integrity. Every manufactured home built today is subject to the HUD code adopted in 1976. This code is the only federally-mandated code in existence. It was designed to ensure that manufactured homes meet strict standards regarding fire safety, structural design, energy efficiency, transportation to home sites, and overall construction. All manufactured homes sold in the U.S. have a permanent red seal to confirm they meet HUD standards.
When you buy a manufactured home, you may be able to move in faster than you would via traditional routes. Some manufactured homes are even move-in ready in less than 45 days. Compared to a traditional home, once a new manufactured home is built in the factory, buyers usually find that installation is a quick process. Once the manufactured home is delivered, utility work usually moves quickly, regardless of whether you're moving to a park or transporting your home to a piece of land. Before you know it, you're eating, sleeping, and enjoying life in your new manufactured home.
When asked about the pros and cons, many buyers cite energy efficiency as one of the most significant benefits of owning a manufactured home. In general, manufactured housing is more energy efficient than traditional because HUD mandates ensure that homes have high energy efficiency ratings.
These ratings are achieved through upgraded insulation installation, on-demand water heaters, and energy-efficient windows. These upgrades often make entire manufactured homes Energy Star certified. It's no surprise that manufactured homes are 27% more efficient than they used to be with other additions like energy-saving appliances in kitchens and bathrooms.
If you've ever lived in an apartment complex before, chances are you heard sounds and noises through your walls that you never wanted to hear. If you hate hearing your neighbors and despise thin walls, looking for mobile home sales in Stateburg, SC is a great idea. Why? Manufactured homes are typically built using separate modules, which reduces sound transference from room to room. When two or more modules are combined and insulated separately, buyers enjoy an even quieter, stronger home with less outside noise.
If there's one disappointing aspect of manufactured homes, the stigma seems to surround them. Yes, mobile homes from 30 or more years ago aren't exactly marvels of construction and deserve to be criticized. However, modern manufactured homes are cut from a different cloth and are often every bit as safe and luxurious as site-built homes.
Here are some of the most common (and annoying) mobile home myths debunked:
Modern manufactured homes are factory-built homes crafted with quality materials that meet comprehensive federal construction and safety standards. These standards, called the "HUD Code," outline how the homes must be built, including safety guidelines. For example, manufactured home builders must take strict measures to ensure their homes are resistant to wind. In terms of hurricanes and tornados, having such measures in place can prevent a tragedy from happening.
The bottom line is that manufactured homes are plenty safe and provide a quality product to people who want a lower-cost option over traditional housing.
One of the most repeated myths surrounding manufactured homes is that they are in poor shape and have an overall poor quality. Today, many manufactured homes are built with quality materials and care. It's not unusual to find a manufactured home with luxurious amenities and features lie state-of-the-art kitchens, high-end appliances, and chic open floor plans. At Ken-Co Homes, we can provide you with a complete list of available upgrades and amenities for you to enjoy in your new home.
Perhaps it's due to their popularity and lower prices, but we often hear that it's hard to find manufactured homes for sale. As seasoned home dealers, we can say this is categorically false. Whether you head over to Google and search for "mobile homes near me in Stateburg, SC," or simply head to Ken-Co Homes' website, you'll see plenty of homes to choose from. Contact our office today for a full list of our homes for sale!
When it comes to home prices in today's day and age, manufactured homes are among the most affordable options available.
That's because manufactured homes cost less to construct than site-built homes, with the average price costing $92K for new construction and $60K for a pre-owned manufactured home, according to recent data. The cost of a traditional home is much higher, with an average of $408K, according to Statista data from 2021. Even though manufactured home living costs change depending on the community, they're often much less expensive than their site-built cousins in the long run.
This myth parallels the stereotype that manufactured homes are cheap and poorly built. Unfortunately, many people still believe that living in a manufactured home community isn't safe. They think that the parks are run down and riddled with reprobates. In reality, many manufactured home parks mimic gated communities with 24-hour security and mandated quiet hours. Some manufactured home neighborhoods even offer community-wide amenities like spas and pools. If you're a fan of the gated community lifestyle but don't want to pay hundreds of thousands for a site-built home, a manufactured home community could be your best bet.
Are you giving serious thought to buying a manufactured home for sale in South Carolina? You're not alone - more than 365K people in the Palmetto State live in manufactured homes. At Ken-Co Homes Inc., we're not your average run-of-the-mill manufactured home dealer. We only do business with manufacturing partners committed to building top-quality products that our customers are proud to own.
If you're looking for modern amenities, energy-efficient appliances, unique floorplans, and homes constructed with quality materials, Ken-Co Homes is the company for you. Contact our office today to learn more about our beautiful Clayton homes for sale in Stateburg, SC.
SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — Many Christians believe in the adage that “only God can turn a test into a testimony,” but two Sumter congregations have more than believed that in the last decade with their facilities. They’ve lived it.The pastors of The Church of the Holy Comforter in downtown Sumter and The Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg sat down recently to discuss “the cloud” over their churches since 2013 from a legal battle about properties and how the conflict brought “a sense of clarity&rdq...
SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — Many Christians believe in the adage that “only God can turn a test into a testimony,” but two Sumter congregations have more than believed that in the last decade with their facilities. They’ve lived it.
The pastors of The Church of the Holy Comforter in downtown Sumter and The Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg sat down recently to discuss “the cloud” over their churches since 2013 from a legal battle about properties and how the conflict brought “a sense of clarity” to ministry.
On Aug. 17, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled six more parishes - including the two in Sumter - that broke away from The Episcopal Church in 2012 can keep their properties in a revision to the court’s ruling in April, when it seemed those churches were destined to lose their facilities.
In the complex case, the state’s high court had to create a new standard in its own words to determine under law whether congregations agreed to a 40-year-old canon that The Episcopal Church argued was sufficient to create a trust interest in property after a 2017 court ruling had five separate opinions from the justices.
The four months of waiting and uncertainty for the two local churches between April and August were symbolic of the nine-year back-and-forth legal case the breakaway Anglican Diocese of South Carolina faced with its properties with The Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. The split from 2012 was over growing theological divides.
The Rev. Michael Ridgill of The Church of the Holy Cross and the Rev. David Booman of The Church of the Holy Comforter said the uncertainty made ministry more clear and “unifying.”
Booman has been at Holy Comforter since last year, and his only other position in full-time ministry was at another breakaway Anglican diocese in the state, St. Michael’s Church in Charleston.
His 10 years between the two churches “has not been easy, but I have seen time and again God use it for good,” Booman said.
“Especially here at Holy Comforter, I think it has enabled us to really get clarity on what is the mission, what are we about,” he said. “I think we have ultimately come through it all that whether we stay or whether we go, we are going to be focused on the mission of Jesus if we are in a church building or if we are meeting in a park under a tree. It’s all about the mission of Jesus, and I think our folks have really embraced that, and they have communicated that to me.”
Both pastors thanked other churches, even across denominations, for their prayers and offerings of support, including potentially sharing their worship space if they lose their properties.
Ridgill and Booman also see it as a “gift of grace” from God and humbling that their congregations are able to keep their facilities.
Both churches go back more than a century. The Church of the Holy Comforter’s sanctuary opened in 1909, and The Church of the Holy Cross’ facility was constructed in 1850. Both have upscale monetary values.
That is a common theme across the Anglican dioceses, and the state Supreme Court ruled eight congregations did create a trust and will be required to hand over ownership of their properties to The Episcopal Church. Some have already done so this summer.
“It’s humbling because it’s not like we are better than the other churches that lost their property, you know,” Ridgill said. “It’s humbling in the sense that we don’t deserve this, but then we never do. It’s always a gift. So, the question with it as a Christian is when we receive this gift of grace, we don’t keep it. We pass it on, and I think that helps us with our focus.”
Both pastors said dioceses across the state are reaching out to see how they can help the eight parishes that must transfer properties.
For the two local congregations, it is also a time now of “renewed excitement and possibilities” in reaching out to the Sumter community in new and creative ways.
It appears “the cloud” has been lifted for good now regarding parish properties, but the men said their congregations were prepared to “win or lose” in the case.
“To have individuals and congregations live into that common mission and ministry, it’s a blessing,” he said. “When you are under the threat of losing your property, then you ask, ‘Well, what do we have left?’
“And what we have left is always the core, the people, and that hasn’t changed. So, I feel, either way, we are in a stronger position because of our circumstances.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The future of one of Walterboro’s oldest and most historic churches continues to hang in the balance after a long-awaited ruling passed by the South Carolina Supreme Court last week.Established in 1855 and located in the historic district of downtown Walterboro, St. Jude’s Church will be losing its rights to the property and church.A legal battle has ensued between the Anglican and Episcopal churches for the last ten years. Historically, all churches were originally part of a trust that belongs to the National Episc...
The future of one of Walterboro’s oldest and most historic churches continues to hang in the balance after a long-awaited ruling passed by the South Carolina Supreme Court last week.
Established in 1855 and located in the historic district of downtown Walterboro, St. Jude’s Church will be losing its rights to the property and church.
A legal battle has ensued between the Anglican and Episcopal churches for the last ten years. Historically, all churches were originally part of a trust that belongs to the National Episcopal Church. The battle was sparked by the separation of some parishes from the Episcopal Church, according to legal opinion. This separation prompted an ongoing legal battle about property rights.
St. Jude’s filed a petition for a rehearing by the Supreme Court on May 5, 2022. There has been no movement by the court since it was filed.
Some churches in the Lowcountry have already left their properties, leaving a number of them seeking other areas to worship in.
“What this means for us is that we have to wait for the court before any final plans are made,” says Rev. Newman H. Lawrence, rector of St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro. “We are in a place of waiting and praying that the Holy Spirit will guide us as to what happens next.”
According to Lawrence, who spoke to The Press and Standard on August 1, there is no timeline yet on when the church may have to leave, should the S.C. Supreme Court still rule against them.
Fourteen of the twenty-nine currently Anglican churches involved in this legal decision will lose all rights to their property and must begin the legal process of transferring their properties to the Episcopal Church as part of the S.C. Supreme Court’s original ruling. The impacted churches are scattered throughout the Lowcountry, from Charleston to Colleton counties. St. Jude’s is the only Anglican church in Colleton County impacted by the ruling.
The other half of the churches involved in the lawsuit will be unaffected by the Supreme Court’s ruling and retain their personal property. Based upon how the individual church laws, or “canons,” were written, those particular churches never conceded to the church law.
“The decision from the Supreme Court is a difficult one to have learned. Our hearts mourn the loss of historic buildings where we have worshiped for generations,” Lawrence said in a prior interview with The Press and Standard. “But, we know the church is more than a building. We will continue to gather and worship the risen Lord, wherever that may be.”
Legal counsel continues to weigh in on both sides of this case. Details include many “what if’s,” such as how the Anglican churches who are losing their properties will be reimbursed or compensated for “betterments” made during the ten years that this court case was being heard. These “betterments,” as they are called in the ruling, refer to physical improvements, expansions, and general upkeep of the church properties.
Other uncertainties include the future of parishioner grave sites that have been purchased and planned for by Anglican members, as well as current graves and cemeteries. The question also remains of whether the new owners of the church properties will allow the Anglican churches to remain as leaseholders.
“The ruling raises many issues that will have to play out in the coming weeks before any actions are taken, so our first response must be to quiet our hearts before the Lord as we pray for the grace to meet the days ahead,” state the Rt. Rev. Chip Edgar in his letter to all Anglican churches in the area. “Some of our churches are relieved that the court ruled their property does indeed belong to them. Some are grieving deeply, as the court’s ruling went in the opposite direction. Edgar continues, “The Lord has provided, and always will provide, all we need to proclaim the gospel, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick, set the captives free, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”
Edgar also asked for continued prayers “for those of us who are called to lead as we sort through the difficult decisions of the days ahead.
According to the S.C. Supreme Court, the fourteen Anglican churches that must hand over their properties to the Episcopal Church are:
The Church of the Good Shepherd in Charleston
The Church of the Holy Comforter in Sumter
St. Bartholomew’s Church in Hartsville
St. John’s Parish Church on John’s Island
St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro
St. Luke’s Church in Hilton Head
St. David’s Church in Cheraw
St. Matthew’s Parish Church in Fort Motte
Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church in Charleston
The Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg
Trinity Church in Myrtle Beach
Holy Trinity Church in Charleston
Christ Church in Mount Pleasant
St. James Church in James Island.
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SUMTER COUNTY, SC (WIS) - When you first see The Ruins historic home in Sumter County, the first thing that comes to mind is how nice it would be to sit on the porch.This Saturday, Col. Rett and Pat Summerville invite you to do so. No, Col. Summerville's name is not misspelled: his mother loved all things Southern but wanted his name to be unique.The 1784 home is on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Stateburg Historic District designated by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.Volu...
SUMTER COUNTY, SC (WIS) - When you first see The Ruins historic home in Sumter County, the first thing that comes to mind is how nice it would be to sit on the porch.
This Saturday, Col. Rett and Pat Summerville invite you to do so. No, Col. Summerville's name is not misspelled: his mother loved all things Southern but wanted his name to be unique.
The 1784 home is on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Stateburg Historic District designated by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
Volunteers from the Historic Columbia Foundation and others dedicated to preserving historic sites in the Stateburg area have decorated the mansion in antebellum-period Christmas style. Docents in period costumes will guide guests through the rooms.
"This is our third year of hosting this open house and we couldn't do it without these dedicated volunteers," Pat Summerville said. Harriet Jackson, Judy Liner, Carl DuBose and Carol-Anne Bostic and others have spent hours getting the home ready for guests. Other volunteers include Janice Bowman, Pat Itter, Dena Creel, Ellen Hayhurst, and Peggy Culler-Hair.
The dining room table, built in Camden, is set with food created by longtime Historic Columbia Foundation volunteer Elizabeth Wyckoff, now deceased.
Last year more than 600 guests toured the home.
It's original owner, Revolutionary War hero John Mayrant, bought the property from fellow war hero General Thomas Sumter and was the first to plant cotton in the region. The cotton fields are long gone but what became of Mayrant's original cabin remains, remarkably preserved.
A longtime resident of the home who sold it to the Summervilles, Mrs. Amelia DeSaussure Barnwell Harper, will be there to tell guests about her memories living there.
Upon retiring from the U.S. Air Force, Col. Summerville and his wife worked to collect and return some of the home's original furnishings, including a circa 1838 sideboard built by noted furniture maker Anthony Quervelle. The piece was original to the home, but it had been sold in the early 1980's. Summerville tracked down the owner of the massive piece, who was willing to part with it since he couldn't fit it through his door.
Summerville has always had a respect for historic sites since his boyhood home was the Nathan Moore House in Oak Park, IL, designed in 1895 by Frank Lloyd Wright.
"The surrounding land of the Ruins has been put into a conservancy to protect it for the future," said Pat.
The Summervilles also have a small museum of tools and other items found on the site.
Other events include Revolutionary War-era demonstrations from Frank Holloway, who fires a period replica mortar, hayrides, and a display of other historic sites in Stateburg.
The Ruins site is at 1257 Barnwell Drive in Stateburg, about 1/2 mile off Highway 261 from 378. The Open House is from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free but donations will be accepted for historic preservation projects.
Copyright 2016 WIS. All rights reserved.
Since 2012, South Carolina Anglicans have been in legal dispute with the Episcopal Church. A mixed State Supreme Court ruling in April 2022 began the conclusion of the last major church property dispute in the North American Anglican realignment.Of the 36 Anglican parishes that were parties in the South Carolina Episcopal Church lawsuit, 28 retained control of their church properties, including the historic St. Michael’s, St. Philip’s and Old St. Andrew’s churches in Charleston. The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina...
Since 2012, South Carolina Anglicans have been in legal dispute with the Episcopal Church. A mixed State Supreme Court ruling in April 2022 began the conclusion of the last major church property dispute in the North American Anglican realignment.
Of the 36 Anglican parishes that were parties in the South Carolina Episcopal Church lawsuit, 28 retained control of their church properties, including the historic St. Michael’s, St. Philip’s and Old St. Andrew’s churches in Charleston. The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina (ADOSC) counts a total of 53 parish and mission churches.
Of the eight ruled by the South Carolina State Supreme Court to lose control of their properties:
The Episcopal Church also filed a Petition for Reconsideration and Rehearing in September, asking the Court to reverse their ruling regarding two Anglican parishes whose property rights were affirmed on August 17: Old St Andrew’s in Charleston (the oldest church building south of Virginia dating to 1706), and the Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg. Those parishes await court action.
St. John’s Parish Church on Johns Island was the first to turn over property to the Episcopal Church, leaving their historic building and grounds to begin meeting for services at a nearby middle school. An Episcopal Church-affiliated congregation began worship on the historic site July 17.
During his recent visit to Charleston for the Mere Anglicanism conference, Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) Archbishop Foley Beach preached at the invitation of the St. John’s congregation.
The decision of Archbishop Beach – who presumably would be welcome in the pulpit of any of the three dozen Charleston-area ACNA parishes – to preach at St. John’s Parish Church signaled care for and support of those who had lost properties.
“It was an incredible encouragement to have the Archbishop with us. We are humbled he chose to be with us,” St. John’s Rector Jeremy Shelton shared with me in an interview this week. “It’s been six months for us now and it has been an incredible blessing. It is difficult, for sure. But God is faithful and our congregation is growing in size, faithfulness, and unity. The Gospel speaks much louder than anything else.”
Shelton, who became St. John’s Rector at the time of the property handover, explained that the invitation for Beach to preach came about after a parish staff member suggested it. The Archbishop’s office circled back within a month, suggesting the weekend of January 29.
Johns Island is a formerly rural community that has quickly become a Charleston suburb. The fourth largest island on the United States’ East Coast, it now has a population nearing 30,000, a growth rate of 114 percent since 2000. Named for Saint John Parish in Barbados by the first English colonial settlers, there is a long history of Anglican worship on the island, with St. Johns Parish Church founded in 1734.
“Our neighbors are from Minnesota, New York, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania,” Shelton, who hails from Kentucky but has lived in South Carolina for nearly 20 years, tells me of his own residential subdivision on the island. “They are coming from everywhere.”
Asked about what has most surprised the congregation amidst the period following the property handover, Shelton answered that congregational unity has grown.
“We were essentially three different congregations worshiping in one space,” Shelton recounted of the church’s recent history. “We went from three different worship preferences to one, and there was almost no dissension at all. It has been such an incredible blessing.”
The relationship with the middle school began about 15 years ago when parishioners prayed together for the school, then scheduled to close, to remain open, leading parishioners to become more intimately involved. It now has a magnet program and is a School of Excellence.
“In 15 years, going from a school that was scheduled to be closed to being a School of Excellence is nothing short of miraculous,” Shelton says of the school where his oldest son was a student and another son is presently enrolled. “They were arms wide open from the moment I reached out to them.”
Shelton said that of the parish congregation, about 250 persons came to worship at the middle school cafeteria, while about a dozen remained with the building as it transferred to the Episcopal Church.
“We are seeing new people come almost on a weekly basis,” Shelton reported. “We hosted a newcomer’s lunch this past Sunday since we began at the middle school and there were about thirty [new participants].”
The transition has not been without challenges: school fire alarms displaced the congregation in the middle of reciting the creed on Sunday, only to recur two weeks later at the conclusion of a service. Worship in a school cafeteria also means visible chewing gum adhered to the bottom of folding tables that double as pews. But St. John’s has a history of making it work.
“We have people who have been members for 94 years that have left the historic buildings and grounds and are now worshiping in the cafeteria of the school,” Shelton notes. Longtime church members recall these aren’t the first challenges the parish faced: in the 1950s, limited space necessitated Sunday school classes meeting in an attic and a graveyard.
“We’ve always made it work,” an elderly parishioner recounted to Shelton. God, he insists, is faithful: “We’re not just making it work, we’re thriving, due to God’s faithfulness and the resolve of the congregation.”
One challenge has already been overcome: the parish initially utilized garages and living rooms for storage, but now a central home base has been established in Resurrection Hall, which houses offices, storage and a trailer at one central location less than a mile from the school.
“You can do anything for a little while,” Shelton laughs. “What we have seen is that simply being in the community, we are hosting bible studies in people’s homes but also coffee shops, restaurants and parks. People are seeing us out and that is a way of beginning conversations.”
Update: St. Matthew’s Church in Fort Motte has successfully completed a capital campaign to buy back their church building, graveyard and parish hall. More here.
COLUMBIA — The S.C. Supreme Court ruled some of the parishes that broke away from the Episcopal Church more than a decade ago must hand over their properties to the national church and its affiliated South Carolina diocese.The court’s April 20 ruling orders 14 of 29 parishes that split from the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina to begin the legal process for handing over ownership of the properties to the Episcopal Church.Those churches, which broke away to form the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, did expressl...
COLUMBIA — The S.C. Supreme Court ruled some of the parishes that broke away from the Episcopal Church more than a decade ago must hand over their properties to the national church and its affiliated South Carolina diocese.
The court’s April 20 ruling orders 14 of 29 parishes that split from the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina to begin the legal process for handing over ownership of the properties to the Episcopal Church.
Those churches, which broke away to form the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, did expressly agree to an Episcopal Church law that places all parish properties in a trust belonging to the national church, the court said.
The other 15 breakaway churches can retain their property since the congregations never explicitly conceded to the church law, known as the 1979 Dennis Canon, the court said.
The ruling appears to finally conclude the drawn-out controversy that originated in 2010 and involves religious properties valued at over $200 million.
Justice John Few wrote in his majority opinion that the April 20 ruling is final.
“From our decision today, there will be no remand,” Few wrote. “The case is over.”
Regarding the use of trademarks and emblems, the state court deferred to federal courts. Those matters are currently on appeal in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The state court also ruled the national church remains the beneficiary of other diocesan properties, namely Camp St. Christopher on Johns Island.
An official with the state’s Episcopal Diocese said the group is “studying the opinion” and intends to have a more complete comment on the court’s ruling later.
The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina said its legal counsel is still reviewing the ruling and its implications.
Some expressed disappointment at the court’s ruling. Longtime Episcopalian Steve Skardon said secular courts have no business, per the U.S. Constitution, getting involved in churches’ theological disputes. He called the Supreme Court’s decision “a huge mistake” that will set precedent for other congregations to involve courts in their disagreements.
“It’s going to affect every church in South Carolina,” Skardon said. “Now, instead of working things out with church hierarchy, you can just run to the courts.”
The Supreme Court said the decision “is not precedential in any future church property dispute.”
The task before the Supreme Court was to determine whether the court’s 2017 ruling was in fact a final decision on the ownership of 29 of the breakaway parishes. It was initially thought the court had ruled 29 of the 36 parishes that broke away from the Episcopal Church were to hand over their properties. But when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in December over the case, it was clear there had been confusion over what the court actually decided in 2017.
The court’s April 20 ruling clarified that the 2017 ruling was not a final judgment pertaining to 29 of the breakaway parishes.
In making its recent ruling, the court examined each parish individually to determine whether the congregations acceded to the Dennis Canon. The canon is a church law adopted in 1979 that states all church property is held in trust by the national Episcopal Church.
The court contends that some of the 29 congregations expressly conceded to the canon, such as Christ’s Church in Mount Pleasant.
Others didn’t, the court said. For example, Charleston churches St. Philip and St. Michael’s took no more action than to “pledge or affirm in their constitutions or bylaws allegiance to the National Church and its teachings,” the court said.
The controversy started in 2010 when dozens of churches left the Episcopal Church over doctrinal differences.
The disassociated diocese filed a lawsuit in state circuit court hoping to maintain ownership of their properties. A circuit court judge ruled in 2014 the breakaway congregations could keep their real estate. The national church appealed the decision, which went before the Supreme Court in 2015, which issued its decision in 2017 with the five justices issuing separate opinions.
The collective result of the five opinions was the central issue before the court regarding the April 20 ruling.
It now appears the matter is finally resolved.