Old Brick Church, officially known as the Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, is a historic landmark situated approximately four miles north of Jenkinsville in Fairfield County, South Carolina. Constructed in 1788, it stands as one of the few surviving 18th-century churches in the South Carolina Midlands and is revered as the “mother church” of the ARP denomination in the state.

Originally established by Scottish and Irish Presbyterian settlers in the 1770s, the congregation initially worshiped in a log church before building the current brick structure. The bricks were handmade by congregation members, and the timber was locally sourced.

A pivotal moment in the church’s history occurred on May 9, 1803, when it hosted the meeting that led to the formation of the Associate Reformed Synod of the Carolinas, marking it as a foundational site for the ARP Church in the region.

The church is a simple, rectangular brick building with a gabled roof, reflecting the austere style typical of early Presbyterian meeting houses. Inside, it features straight-back wooden pews and a raised dais pulpit. A notable feature is the slave gallery located at the west end, a sobering reminder of the era in which it was built.

In 1852, a granite wall was constructed around the church and its adjoining cemetery, which contains graves of Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers.

During the Civil War, Union troops dismantled parts of the church’s floor to use the wood for rebuilding a bridge over the nearby Little River. A Union soldier left an apology on an interior wall, stating:

“Citizens of this community—please excuse us for defacing your house of worship so much. It was absolutely necessary to effect a crossing over the creek. A Yankee.”

After the congregation moved to a new building in the 1920s, the Old Brick Church ceased regular services. However, it was reinstated as a house of worship by the Catawba Presbytery in 1973 and is maintained by the Old Brick Church Commission. The church is used for special services, including a triennial ARP worship service held on the last Sunday in October.

The Old Brick Church is located on South Carolina Highway 213, approximately four miles north of Jenkinsville. While it is not open for regular services, the site is accessible to visitors interested in its historical significance. The peaceful surroundings and the adjacent cemetery offer a reflective experience for those interested in South Carolina’s religious and architectural heritage.