Our History

On February 23, 1785, Bishop Francis Asbury and three fellow Methodist ministers — Rev. Woolman Hickson, Rev. Jesse Lee, and Rev. Henry Willis — rode into Georgetown after preaching their way down through the Carolinas. That night, Asbury preached his first sermon here, and William Wayne became the first Methodist convert in South Carolina. Wayne soon opened his home to the preachers, and a congregation was formed — the first Methodist Church in the state.

Though Asbury often called Georgetown “a poor place for religion,” he returned nearly every year until his death. By the 1790s, the church remained small but steady, with a handful of white members and a growing number of Black believers who found hope in the Methodist message.

Throughout the early 19th century, Methodist preachers in Georgetown faced challenges. Services were sometimes disrupted by hecklers, and class meetings held members accountable to a high moral standard. Yet the church grew slowly, aided by leaders like William Wayne and later Bishop William Capers, who grew up near Georgetown and became a central figure in South Carolina Methodism.

In 1833, the congregation constructed its second sanctuary, a wooden structure on land donated by the Wayne family. This building would serve as the heart of the Methodist community for the rest of the century.

By the turn of the 20th century, the wooden church had fallen into disrepair. Under the leadership of Rev. Whiteford McKendree Duncan, a new brick sanctuary was begun in 1901. The cornerstone, engraved “Duncan M.E. Church South, 1901,” honored his leadership and gave the church its name.

The sanctuary, dedicated in January 1903, cost $15,000 and included beautiful stained glass windows, many of which still grace the building today. These windows, memorials to families and individuals who shaped the life of the church, are filled with Christian symbols, crosses, crowns, lilies, doves, and anchors, each pointing toward faith and hope.

As Georgetown grew, so did Duncan Memorial. A parsonage was built, then rebuilt, and Sunday School wings and fellowship spaces were added. In 1950, a Chapel and Fellowship Hall were constructed, later joined by a Family Center in 1991.

Over the decades, Duncan has been home to faithful lay leaders, influential pastors, and missionaries who carried the Gospel far beyond Georgetown. The stained glass windows, the church bell, and the preserved records remind us of a congregation rooted deeply in both local history and the wider Methodist movement.

From its beginnings with a handful of people in William Wayne’s home to its present ministries on Highmarket Street, Duncan Memorial has stood as a witness to the faithfulness of God in Georgetown. For more than 235 years, our church has gathered to worship, serve, and share Christ’s love with our community.