OUR HISTORY
Generations of Faithfulness
The story of Sandy Plains ARP Church is the story of God’s faithfulness to ordinary people in an extraordinary way. From a small group of Scottish-Irish settlers who planted a Reformed witness in the Carolina Piedmont, to the thriving congregation that gathers each Lord’s Day today, God has kept His covenant promises to this community for more than two centuries.
Roots in the Piedmont
Scottish-Irish Presbyterian families settling in the Sandy Plains area of upstate South Carolina begin gathering for worship in homes and under brush arbors, bringing with them the covenanting faith of their ancestors.
Congregation Organized
Sandy Plains is formally organized as a congregation under the care of the Associate Reformed Presbytery. A simple log meeting house is erected on land donated by one of the founding families.
First Permanent Church
The growing congregation builds its first permanent frame church building, a plain but sturdy structure reflecting the simplicity and sincerity of Reformed worship on the frontier.
Rebuilding After the War
Though the Civil War brings hardship to every family in the community, the congregation perseveres. The church building is repaired, membership slowly recovers, and faithfulness in worship continues unbroken.
A New Sanctuary
After decades of growth, the congregation erects a new brick sanctuary — the building that still serves as the heart of our campus today. It is dedicated to the glory of God with thanksgiving for His steadfast love.
Education & Fellowship
An education wing and fellowship hall are added to accommodate growing Sunday School classes, Wednesday evening programs, and community meals that strengthen the bonds of the church family.
Rev. Greg Hamer Called
The congregation calls Rev. Greg Hamer as Senior Pastor. His faithful expository preaching and pastoral heart quickly endear him to the Sandy Plains family, beginning a ministry that continues to bless the church today.
Continuing the Legacy
Sandy Plains ARP Church remains what it has always been — a community of believers committed to the authority of Scripture, the doctrines of grace, and the love of Christ for one another and our neighbors. The best chapter of our story is still being written.
OUR DENOMINATION
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
The ARP Church traces its roots to the Scottish Covenanters and Seceders — men and women who cherished the Reformed faith so deeply they were willing to suffer for it. When these believers crossed the Atlantic and settled in the American South, they brought with them a love for Scripture, the Westminster Standards, and the singing of Psalms that still marks ARP worship today.
Formed in 1782, the ARP Church is one of the oldest Presbyterian denominations in North America. Sandy Plains has been part of this family of churches from our earliest days, and we are grateful to belong to a denomination that holds fast to the faith once delivered to the saints.
“Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.”
— Deuteronomy 32:7
LOOKING FORWARD
The Next Chapter
Two hundred years of history teach us one thing above all else: God is faithful. The same Lord who planted a tiny congregation in the Carolina backcountry is the Lord who sustains us today. Our calling has not changed — to worship the Triune God in spirit and in truth, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
We don’t know what the next chapter holds, but we know the Author. And so we press on — raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, opening our doors to anyone seeking the hope of the gospel, and trusting that the God who began a good work among us will bring it to completion.
Become Part of Our Story
We would love to welcome you and your family to Sandy Plains this Lord’s Day.