AME 7

Church History - Haynes Chapel AME Church

Historical Sketch of Haynes Chapel AME Church
261 Good Hope Road
Lone Star, South Carolina

It is written: "Jesus tells Peter and upon this Rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

In the late 1800s a few members of St. Luke AME Church, who resided closer to the Pinegrove Community in the Lone Star area, decided they needed a church closer to their homes.  In those days most people walked to church, the walk to St. Luke every Sunday seemed to get longer and longer. Around 1894 a committee got together to make plans to build a new church.  This group consisted of Irving Haynes and his family, Wesley Bodrick, Martin Irick, Ben Esaw and Phillis Durant. Irving Haynes donated the timber from his land for the new church, and he was very instrumental in the building of the church. The church was named Haynes Chapel AME Church in his honor.

The group received cooperation from St. Luke AME Church the main circuit in this area for the AME Church. With a whole lot of work and determination, Haynes Chapel AME Church wascompleted in 1896.  The new church was located in the town of Lone Star. Instead of theusual three to four mile walk to St. Luke AME Church on Sunday mornings, the foundingfathers and mothers were now within a one mile radius from the new church.

Over the years there have been many pastors at this great church, such as Rev. Felder, Rev.J.W. Seals, Rev. Wilson, Rev. Blackwell, Rev. John L. Davis (twice), Rev. Jessie Thompson, Rev. Patrick Mellerson, Rev. Samuel Gordon, Rev. Henryhand, Rev. J.P. Cummings, Rev. William Hammonds, Rev. Virginia Stith, Rev. Mary Hamilton, Rev. Betty Clark and Associate Pastor Rev. Esau Clark, Rev. Gloretia Spann, Rev. Dante' Kenly and Rev. Effson Bryant.  

​On November 2018 Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green Sr. appointed Reverend James Peeples, Sr. a native of Neeses, SC as Senior Pastor.

As time passed, nature took its toll on Haynes Chapel AME Church.  Many years had passed since the original Haynes Chapel AME Church was built. Under the the leadership of Rev. Jessie Thompson, the present officers were faced with the task of making preparations to rebuild Haynes Chapel AME Church, because the original building was beyond repair.  

The officers decided to build a new Haynes Chapel AME Church.  The officers consisted of Trustee Board; Thaddeus Pitts, Johnny Brunson, Frank D. Bodrick, David Brown, McArthur Bodrick and the Steward Board, Samuel L. Bodrick, who  was responsible for the architectural design of this great church, Charles Gates, and Bessie M. Rush. These officers worked diligently, and with the help of the church membership, they were successful in fulfilling their dreams.

Haynes Chapel AME Church was rebuilt in 1984 under the leadership of Reverend Jessie Thompson, Reverend  W. J. Baxter, Presiding Elder of the Wateree District, and Presiding Bishop  John Hurst Adams.  The church is now located in the Good Hope area off of Highway 267 at 261 Good Hope Road in the Lone Star Community.

Stewards:     J. Bodrick, Jr., S.L. Bodrick, R. Doles, B. Fowler, P. Gates. M.B. Johnson, D. Pitts, D. Pitts, Jr., M. Pitts, and M .L. Pondexter.

Trustees:    F.D. Bodrick, J. Bodrick, J.H. Bodrick, McA Bodrick, D.L. Brown, J. Brunson, R. Brunson,  S. Lemon, N. Pitts, T. Pitts and L. Pitts

Dedicated: May 28, 1995, Presiding Elder W.J. Baxter, pastor Rev. J.P. Cummings

If we could sent out special invitations to some of our founding deceased fathers and
mothers, whom was very influential with the history of Haynes Chapel AME Church spiritually and financially. Special invitations would go out to: Irving Haynes, Wesley Bodrick, Martin Irick, Ben Esaw and Phillis Durant, Frank Bodrick Sr., Joseph Bodrick Sr., Dennis Pitts, Sr., James Bodrick Jr., Frank Bodrick Jr., Bessie Pitts, Essie Bodrick, Dennis Pitts, Jr., Thaddeus Pitts, Benezuela Pitts, Samuel Lee Bodrick, Frank David Bodrick, David Brown, Joseph Bodrick, Willie Mae Bodrick, Pearlie Gates, Sadie Fair, Corine Hart, Dorothy Brunson, Richard Brunson, Silas Lemon, Ruth Bodrick, Betty Bodrick, Lucille Bodrick, Minister James Jenkins, Johnnie Brunson, Rosalind Brown, Maggie Pitts, Timothy Fowler, Blanche Bodrick, Cleartha Pitts Robinson, Martha Roeback, Alean Brunson, Maggie Lou Pondexter, James Bodrick, Nathaniel Pitts, Charles Gates, Ezekiel Bodrick, Ollie Mae Jenkins, William Bodrick, Bobby Bodrick, Alma Brunson Irving, Mother Viola Lemon and Chris Andre Bodrick to name only a few.

The members of Haynes Chapel AME Church continue to work very hard with the help of the Lord. We thank God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us.

African Methodist Episcopal Church