Saint Stephen United Methodist Church

St. Stephen United Methodist Episcopal Church Orangeburg, South Carolina was organized in 1869.   The church held its meeting under the Bush Arbor.  On October 22, 1881, four acres of land were purchased and a wooden church edifice was erected that was barely large enough to hold the members,  followed by  a small school building.  Around 1885, the first real church was erected.  It was a wooden edifice with large windows and high steeple.  On June 16, 1951, an acre adjacent to the church was purchased.  In April 1968 in Dallas, Texas, a merger between the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church, formed the United Methodist Church.  Therefore, the  St. Stephen United Methodist Episcopal Church ceased to exist and became known as St. Stephen United Methodist Church. On May 9, 1976, a new modern brick edifice was built.