Members praise God in tents after fire destroys historic black church in South Carolina

July 22, 2025

Members of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Darlington County, South Carolina, gathered to worship in tents on Sunday after losing their century-old church to a massive fire on Saturday.

The Christian Post reports that the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of smoke at the church around 4pm on Saturday.

Upon arriving at the church, first responders, along with the Rev. Eugene Thomas, found the structure fully engulfed in flames.

The Palmetto Rural Fire District responded to the blaze and was assisted by the Darlington Fire Department, Darlington County Fire District, Windy Hill, and West Florence Fire-Rescue.

Brian Gandy, director of the Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum, mourned the loss of the historic African-American church, saying, “What a sad day — it appears that Pleasant Grove Baptist Church may be a total loss.”

According to the Christian Post, the church was founded in 1869, although the now destroyed building was built in 1910.

Rev. Thomas told WTBW that, despite the loss, his congregants have reminded him about what’s truly important.

Thomas said, “That’s what I’ve seen through this,” he added. “That the church is one thing, and it’s not a building. It’s the people.”

Churchgoer Tanika Reeves told WTBW, “You can have church anywhere. But today, having everyone show up for us, be here. The church was still together without the building.”

Photo: top, Credit: Palmetto Rural Fire District