About

The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island is now in its fourth century of worship and ministry. We are an historic congregation - one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in the denomination, in existence at the same location of our establishment in 1685 - and yet we are as modern as this internet website

We are a congregation of approximately 150 members situated in a burgeoning resort area which is attracting people from all walks of life who have lived all over the world. Consequently, we are a cosmopolitan congregation, primarily composed, now, of active couples enjoying retirement, representing a variety of Presbyterian and Reformed church traditions. 

Continuing an over 300 year tradition of serving the spiritual and physical needs of the Edisto Island community, The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island’s vibrant and growing congregation provides a welcoming face to the Island’s visitors and new residents alike. The Prayer Chapel offers people a quiet place for personal communion with God and opportunity to ask congregational prayer support for themselves and loved ones. Many of those who make use of the Prayer Chapel have stopped to visit the church’s historic graveyard. Others are responding to a personal need when seeing the sign on the highway pointing to this unique Prayer Chapel. Each Sunday, prayer requests left in the Prayer Chapel are brought to the congregation during the People’s Prayer portion of the worship Service.

To meet some of the other needs of the community, the church operates a preschool. A monthly food pantry, organized and managed by The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island and supported as well by other local churches, distributes groceries to members of the broader island community.  This ministry enables church members to reach out to local residents less fortunate than themselves.  Each summer, the church provides a church home-away-from-home and in fact a home-away-from-home. Church youth groups  from around the country are housed in its activities building and Omni center while they participate in area youth mission work.

The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, its pastor and its members are deeply involved in a variety of ecumenical activities on the island as well.  These activities include the island interfaith Ministerial Alliance, the annual Easter sunrise service on the shores of Edisto’s beach, World Day of Prayer, the annual Edisto Island Women's Conference, and a special celebration of Friendship Sunday, when the church not only welcomes new residents and visitors, but also provides an oyster roast for members and church visitors after the Sunday service. 

Our church sanctuary and manse (where pastors have lived since the 18th century) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Maintaining the historical authenticity of these old buildings while also equipping and furnishing them for continuing contemporary use has been an ongoing challenge for our congregation. In 1995 we completed an extensive exterior renovation of our sanctuary and recently finished restoring the interior of the sanctuary to accommodate our growing membership and more closely reflect the church's past. We have also renovated the manse to make it more comfortable for our pastors and their families. The sanctuary is surrounded by an historic graveyard, dating from 1787, which is the site of considerable tourist and genealogical research activity.

We welcome all who wish to visit our church, to take part in its worship and ministries, or simply to stop by.