I intend to look at the Established Anglican Church in South Carolina between 1704 and 1790. I want to focus on the various challenges brought against the established church and how the government in South Carolina addressed these challenges.

After doing some early research, it seems that the desire for economic development and stability played an important role in weaking people's support for maintaining an established church. People feared that creating and maintaining an established church would drive out many people (i.e. non-Anglicans) and act as a disincentive for more to settle in the area, thus impeding the healthy economic growth of the Province. Even in the mid-18th Century the Assembly was passing legislation inducing French Protestants to settle in the colony. Having human bodies to develop the land was more important than ensuring a primarily Anglican populous. Additionally, some urged that all Protestants should unite against the Indians and blacks to protect themselves and ensure economic stability against these potential threats. Yes, there was a lot of talk about 'religious freedom and tolerance', but that doesn't seem to be the whole story. For pragmatic, economic concerns it just didn't make sense to have an established church which favored Anglicans over dissenters and divided the populous.

I have attached some potential sources.

-- JosephForderer - 12 Nov 2009

• 1704_Act_regarding_Oaths_of_office.docx: This is a 1704 Act regarding required Oaths of Office followed by a critique of the Act.

• Church_Act_1706_1708.pdf: This is the Church Act of 1706 which essentially establishes the Anglican Church in the Province.

• William_Tennents_Speech_before_the_Assembly.docx: A Speech before the Assembly arguing for disestablishment

• SC_Constitution_of_1788.pdf: Constitution changing the established church from Anglican to Christian (see Art. XXXVII)