This Place

If you grew up deep in the south, real deep, deeper than you can probably trace your roots, deep like that feeling you get when you feel Spirit take over, what the old folks called the Holy Ghost, that deep. Then you’re probably familiar with your great grandmas old stories of This Place. A place where whaling can be heard for miles. A place tucked far off the beaten path, probably white in color, and lit up by the glare of candle light. A place where the old ones practiced the old ways; and where the shuffle of ring shouts & call and response, paved the way for the modern day church choir. A place where the young ones would meet with their elders and talk about their dreams after a long night of “seeking” in the woods. 

Here stands the Mary Jenkins Praise House, the last of 3 remaining praise houses on St Helena Island ( originally there was four) and the last of the vanishing Praise Houses in the entire South. Originally known as “Prays House” , praise houses were a place of prayer, congregation, ritual, and celebration, more prominently found on the Sea Islands of SC & GA. Although existing well before slavery ended, when enslaved folks became free, they built praise houses on or near the old plantation, in most instances naming it after their former plantation owner. A ringing bell hanging from the praise house ceiling would notify community members of births, deaths, and calls to worship. Stepping into the door of this praise house was like stepping into a portal back in time. The original pews and wood, mostly still in tact, smelling of sweaty praise and worship, I was there, sitting amongst a energy that I must’ve  experienced in a past life. My blood ran warm and my heart pumped with a different rhythm than it had before. A spunky type rhythm. The hair on my arm raised as if it was under a spell of some sort. I was at a crossroads of heard , unheard, seen, and unseen. Swept up in a whirlwind of emotion, all I could do was sit on these old wooden pews, and weep tears of joy.  I was here, in This Place.

* Services are still occasionally held here for holidays, festivals, home-going ceremonies, and the traditional Watch Night Service on New Years Eve.