Original Pen & Ink Drawing of St. Louis Catholic Church, Dillon, South Carolina
"St. Louis Church, Dillon, S.C. 50th Anniversary: 1943-1993"
November 7, 1993.

 The History of Our Church


The Beginnings

"The development of the Catholic congregation in Dillon County can be traced directly to individuals through whom the Holy Spirit was working.  Mrs. Frances King Biggs was one of these instrumental persons.

Miss Frances King, born in Dublin, Ireland came to Dillon, S.C. from Auburn, N.Y., after marrying Mr. David Biggs in 1919.  Current information indicates she was the only Catholic in the city of Dillon and the whole county.  Although Catholic services were held in Lumberton, N.C., and Florence, S.C., attendance at these services was difficult due to travel conditions.  Because of Mrs. Biggs's Christian example, helping her neighbors and the community in various ways, many people were baptized into the Catholic Faith.

The area was joined by other Catholics coming from Latta and a Catholic Physician, Dr. Victor Branford who settled in Dillon, S.C.  Father Tobin would travel from St. Anthony's Parish, in Florence, S.C., to visit Frances Biggs's home.  And soon, Fr. Tobin was celebrating Mass in her home once a month.  The buffet was moved into the living room to serve as an altar.  After Mass, Father was always treated to a delicious breakfast by Frances.

Father Tobin arranged for Sisters from Sumter, S.C., (probably the Sisters of Mercy) to come to Frances's house on one Saturday a month to teach catechism instruction.  On Sundays, Frances conducted Sunday school for the faithful.  Thus, the firm basis for the future mission church was established by the late 1930's."

The Mission Church

"Land for the Home Church was purchased March 10, 1938 for $1,000 and construction began shortly thereafter.  The work was to be completed by May, 1939.  The first services in the chapel were conducted by Father Tobin on May 7, 1939.  On May 27, several women were baptized by Fr. Tobin to include two sisters-in-law of Frances Biggs (Mary Biggs and Annie Lovell), along with a neighbor, Mrs. Todd.  (Incidentally, Mary Biggs is today [then, November 7, 1993] the oldest continuing member of St. Louis Parish).  Frances King Biggs was honored as "Catholic Women of the Year" by the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women in October, 1954.

On May 28, 1939, Pentecost Sunday, the Chapel of St. Louis was dedicated by Bishop Emmett Walsh.  The chapel and its small congregation officially became a mission of St. Anthony's Church of Florence, [S.C.], under the pastorate of Fr. Tobin.  The Mass, ceremonies, and reception were attended by representatives of many local churches, political and civic leaders and, of course, the church members and their families.

As the home church was expanding, Dr. Victor Branford was endeavoring to gain support for a local Catholic Hospital to serve Dillon and the surrounding areas.  He sought and gained the support of Bishop Emmett Walsh of the Diocese of Charleston.  The Bishop gained the help of the Sisters of St. Mary, St. Louis, Mo., to establish the hospital.  Since many of the nuns from St. Louis would be locating here to provide medical/administrative services to the new hospital, Bishop Walsh agreed to provide a priest in Dillon to serve the "home church" and the sisters."

On May 28, 1939, Pentecost Sunday, the Chapel of St. Louis was dedicated by Bishop Emmett Walsh.  The chapel and its small congregation officially became a mission of St. Anthony's Church of Florence, [S.C.], under the pastorate of Fr. Tobin.  The Mass, ceremonies, and reception were attended by representatives of many local churches, political and civic leaders and, of course, the church members and their families.

As the home church was expanding, Dr. Victor Branford was endeavoring to gain support for a local Catholic Hospital to serve Dillon and the surrounding areas.  He sought and gained the support of Bishop Emmett Walsh of the Diocese of Charleston.  The Bishop gained the help of the Sisters of St. Mary, St. Louis, Mo., to establish the hospital.  Since many of the nuns from St. Louis would be locating here to provide medical/administrative services to the new hospital, Bishop Walsh agreed to provide a priest in Dillon to serve the "home church" and the sisters."

On May 28, 1939, Pentecost Sunday, the Chapel of St. Louis was dedicated by Bishop Emmett Walsh.  The chapel and its small congregation officially became a mission of St. Anthony's Church of Florence, [S.C.], under the pastorate of Fr. Tobin.  The Mass, ceremonies, and reception were attended by representatives of many local churches, political and civic leaders and, of course, the church members and their families.

As the home church was expanding, Dr. Victor Branford was endeavoring to gain support for a local Catholic Hospital to serve Dillon and the surrounding areas.  He sought and gained the support of Bishop Emmett Walsh of the Diocese of Charleston.  The Bishop gained the help of the Sisters of St. Mary, St. Louis, Mo., to establish the hospital.  Since many of the nuns from St. Louis would be locating here to provide medical/administrative services to the new hospital, Bishop Walsh agreed to provide a priest in Dillon to serve the "home church" and the sisters."

St. Louis Parish

"With the construction of the new hospital well underway, Bishop Walsh decided to establish St. Louis as a parish.  On November 4, 1943, Father Baum was appointed the pastor of the new parish of St. Louis, thus terminating its mission status with St. Anthony's of Florence, [S.C.].  Fr. Baum was also to serve as the chaplain for the new hospital, its personnel and patients.  Father Baum was to reside in special priest's quarter in St. Eugene's Hospital, once construction was complete.

The parish during the next years grew slowly but steadily.  The influx of new industries brought in Catholics from other areas of the country.  Converts to Catholicism added to the numbers of the parishioners.  Catholics from other counties, particularly Marion, journeyed to Dillon for Mass and other church activities.  Eventually, many Marion County parishioners attended Mass in the home of parishioners or at other sites.  In 1967, The Church of the Infant Jesus was officially established in Marion with the pastor of St. Louis also serving as its pastor.

Over the years, the St. Louis Church has been expanded and modified to accommodate its congregation.  A choir room (the extension on the right facing the altar) was constructed under the guidance of Father Anderson in the early 1950's.  The vestibule (at the entrance) was added under the guidance of Father Murphy in 1958.  The Grotto was built under the pastorate of Father Sheedy in 1947.  Modern heating and air-conditioning replaced the old oil stove and fans used previously.

The parish physical plant was expanded in October, 1971 with the purchase of the present rectory, thanks to a generous gift of $10,000 from the Sisters of St. Mary.  The parish center was purchased in Jan. 1979, along with the land and buildings adjacent to the Church.  In May, 1990, the parish religious education center was purchased and minor modifications made."

THANKSGIVING

"In all circumstances, give thanks..." (1 Thes 5:18)

"During the last 50 plus years, St. Louis Church has been blessed with many who tirelessly provided "labors of love".  The priest and sisters have contributed their leadership, teaching and caring talents to our church.  The parishioners have contributed their ideas, time, labor, and financial resources to improve all the aspects of the church, e.g. physical plant, spiritual activities and the inner workings of the various parish organizations.  Many thousands of tourists who have visited St. Louis have been quite generous in supporting the parish financially and in giving us moral support."

AFTERWORD

"TO ALL THOSE OVER THE LAST 50 PLUS YEARS WHO HAVE COOPERATED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BUILD UP THE "BODY OF CHRIST" IN DILLON, WE THANK YOU AND BLESS YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO BRINGING ABOUT THE 'KINGDOM OF GOD' HERE AND NOW."