Sunday, Jun. 08, 2008

Faith: Finding the right church

Religious life is rich and full in the Columbia area.

And, if you don’t think so, just look at the parking lots.

Churches, synagogues and mosques open their doors not only for worship but also for all sorts of other activities throughout the week to accommodate the faithful.

Selecting the right church takes time. Here, a look at some area congregations — and a few of the things that make them special:

History lessons: Listen as some of the docents at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral tell the story of the church’s historic place in the city. The beautiful stained glass windows alone are worth the trip.

Elaborate pageantry: You can’t beat First Baptist Church in downtown Columbia for faith-based musical performances. The congregation stages a salute to liberty every July and a spectacular Christmas pageant in December.

Myriad ministries: Walk down Shandon Baptist Church’s “Main Street” and you’ll find a ministry to suit every congregant’s needs.

Best cemetery: First Presbyterian Church, another historic Gothic downtown gem, has a wonderful walking tour of its churchyard. It was established as a burial ground by the Legislature in 1798 and includes ministers, government officials, lawmakers, and soldiers of the Revolution, the Mexican War and the Civil War.

Fastest-growing: The Rev. Gregg Surratt began Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant and now has five locations in South Carolina, including Columbia and Irmo — as well as congregations in North Carolina and Georgia.

Civil rights history: Zion Baptist Church on Washington Street in downtown Columbia served as a meeting place for hundreds involved in the civil rights movement in Columbia, as did First Nazareth Church on Gervais Street and Bethel AME Church, now on Woodrow Street.

Great preaching: The Rev. Charles Jackson at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia is known for dynamic preaching, but don’t stop there. Many congregations will boast that their minister as the best.

Focus on outreach: Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, led by the Rev. Darrell Jackson, has challenged its membership to contribute 160,000 hours of volunteer work at United Way agencies and other charitable organizations.

A call to prayer: Columbia area Muslims are small in number but worship at several mosques dotted around the city and are active participants in interfaith dialogues.

Shalom: Columbia’s Jewish community gathers in Trenholm Road-area congregations: Beth Shalom (Conservative), Tree of Life (Reform), and Chabad of South Carolina (congregation Beit Midrash) on Rockbridge Road.

It’s Orthodox: There are four Orthodox congregations in the Midlands, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, site of the annual downtown Greek Festival; St. Barnabas Orthodox Church in Lexington; Holy Apostles Orthodox Christian Church in West Columbia; and St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Church in Cayce.

Hispanic ministry: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and St. Peter’s Catholic Church have a tremendous Hispanic outreach. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on St. Andrews Road has a vibrant Spanish ministry, with a regular Sunday Spanish-language service and a Spanish-speaking priest.

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