Church Island Graveyard

Under the cover of the regal willows and fragrant pine trees and hidden behind the lengthy grass, their stories remain untouched, yet not forgotten. Nature has been kind to them, careful to erode very little of the memories and tributes to the people that once lived in Cross, SC. Even the creation of Lake Marion has proven to be a mighty shield protecting the tombstones on Church Island from the physical and social changes of society over the decades.

Upon beaching our kayak onto Church Island, it became evident that we were on hollow ground. Birds quieted their calls while even the waves seemed to gently brush against land, careful not to disturb the island's inhabitants. One only has to visit the island for a few minutes to see the magic in imagining the lives these South Carolinians might have once lived.

First view of the Church and graveyard from the gate.

And grand lives they must have lived! It is believed that many of these headstones belonged to people associated with the fame Swamp Fox himself, Francis Marion who once owned land nearby. Francis Marion is considered to be one of the great war heroes of the Revolutionary War and is credited as one of the fathers of modern guerilla warfare. A man of his time, Marion owned slaves and fought in campaigns against the Cherokee Indians. Yet, it was his experience in fighting against the Cherokee during the French and Indian War that influenced his battle tactics against the British. Marion noticed the Cherokee would hide themselves within the Carolina backwoods and were able to construct devastating attacks. As an officer in the Revolutionary War, Marion's militia would use those same guerilla tactics to surprise British regiments. Due to his crafty and resourceful leadership, he was able to scare the British right out of South Carolina! His legacy and myth loosely influenced Mel Gibson's character in The Patriot as well!

I bet they never thought they'd get a resting place with a view!

While Francis Marion himself is not buried here, some of the headstones date back to 1815. One of the "newer" graves belongs to Joseph Simons who lived on Pond Bluff Plantation, which was originally Marion's home. In the process of building Lake Marion, many peoples' lives were displaced. Simons refused to give up his land at the time and when Santee Cooper Project invoked eminent domain, Simons ended his life on his front porch. Read more about the building of Lake Marion in my last post about Ferguson Island Ghost Town.

While this looks like the foundation of the church, it was actually another graveyard!

This pulpit is all that remains from the Church.

While visiting Church Island, I couldn't help but be reminded that these people lived lives reflective of the time period in which they lived. Most likely their daily "normal" was very different from my own. No doubt their political and social views contrasted with my own as well. Yet, I like to think that all those things that make life worth celebrating and remembering, were the same.

For example, I'm sure "Lydia" loved playing tag like most children do. 

and I'm sure Mrs. Dwight loved her husband and laughing with friends!

This headstone touched my heart! In a time often characterized by short lifespans, these two were married for 60 years!

Unfortunately, our time for exploring the island was limited due to the impending sunset. If you are interested in going to Church Island, and I hope you are, we put our kayaks in at Spiers Landing in Cross, SC. From there, it was a 20 minute paddle to the island. We brought a GPS just in case, but it's easy enough to find!

So until we meet again, a final glance back at an amazing location and tribute to South Carolina history!