Whatson nelson7/13/2023 ![]() ![]() One hundred and thirty-two years after he was born in the Reconstruction-era South, his grandson, the Rev. To this day, the influence of Warren Julius Nelson’s ministry lives on. They were also active on issues of race and civil rights, including protesting at segregated public spaces and holding positions in the NAACP. Four of Nelson’s sons went on to become ministers and prominent church leaders. One of his greatest legacies is the generations of service his family has given to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessor denominations. In his Board of National Missions personnel file, Warren Julius Nelson wrote, “Through my efforts and work I have influenced many boys and girls to come into the Presbyterian Church through the school and with pride I can point to many of them teaching, preaching, and rendering service in many communities.” Click here to watch the video in Pearl Digital Collections. Herbert Nelson, II, grandson of Warren Julius Nelson. Nelson had a positive impact on Atlantic Presbytery, which during his lifetime produced a large number of Black ministers compared to the rest of the denomination. Goodwill Presbyterian Church and Day School raised future successful members of the community including business, civil and religious leaders. Warren Julius Nelson served Goodwill Presbyterian Church and Christians all around South Carolina until he retired in 1960. The nine cooperating churches dedicated themselves to recreation, education, health, morals and economic betterment. The mission of the parish was to join together pastors and other Christian education leaders to support the more than 3,000 congregants in surrounding communities. One of the biggest achievements was the establishment of the Goodwill Larger Parish, a consortium of nine congregations across Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties. In his 36 years of service at Goodwill, the county’s social and economic standings substantially improved. During his time at Goodwill Presbyterian Church, he also served as principal of the Goodwill Day School. Nelson was passionate about sharing his education with other Black Presbyterians. Goodwill Presbyterian Church had many needs, with the vast majority of Sumter County’s Black population working as sharecroppers. They had attended the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church while enslaved and no longer wanted to worship in a segregated space as free people. The historic congregation was founded in 1867 after 100 Black members of the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church formed their own church. Leaving the church in a sturdier position than when he had arrived a decade earlier, Nelson accepted another call in Mayesville at Goodwill Presbyterian Church in 1925. A new church building and manse were constructed, with its congregants taking the gospel into the world and ministering to disadvantaged families in the more rural areas of the county. Ridgeway’s church and surrounding community experienced a period of transformation and growth during Nelson’s tenure. ![]() Image from Goodwill Presbyterian Church 150th anniversary program, 1992, RG 428. Moore and had two more children, John Calvin and Ella Baynard. They remained together until Maggie’s death. During their marriage Warren and Maggie had five sons: Warren Julius, Jr., William Tycer, Otis Jerome, James Herbert and Grover Dwight. The couple worked steadfastly - Maggie held the roles of schoolteacher and director of music while Warren ministered as pastor. After five years, he accepted a call in Ridgway.Īt both congregations, Nelson served alongside his wife, Maggie Grant. Nelson loved his home state and served there his entire pastoral career, answering his first call to a small rural congregation in Marion. In 1909, he graduated from Biddle Theological Seminary and emerged as a young pastor eager to pass on his teachings to the wider community. Nelson continued his education at Biddle University, where he earned high school and college degrees. He was afforded a Christian education during his formative years through the New Haven Parochial School and the Kendal Institute, which was operated by Second Presbyterian Church and sponsored by the Board of Missions for Freedmen. On October 6, 1884, Warren Julius Nelson was born in Sumter County, South Carolina. Image from Black Presbyterians in Ministry, published 1978. ![]()
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