An Ink Drawing of St. James Santee "Brick Church" circa 1768

A picnic under the old oaks on the grounds of St.
James Santee "Brick Church" (1768) is the subject of today's ink drawing. Since it was too cold and wet to paint en plein air today, I plan to use this sketch to develop an oil painting.

Although St. James "Old Brick Church" now "stands alone among the pines and oaks" of Francis Marion National Forest, once a year on the first Sunday after Easter ancestors of the original congregation and friends gather to worship in this place of " refuge and peace".

Today's beautiful and moving service was lead by The Rev. Jennie C. Olbrych, Vicar of St. James Santee Episcopal Church, McClellanville, SC . The Rev. Andy Morgan from Prince George Winyah Church preached a memorable sermon. Pictured are The Revs. Andy Morgan and Jennie Olbrych and Max Olbrych .


After the service, everyone braved the unseasonably cold weather to enjoy time together eating and visiting on the church grounds under spreading live oaks beside the colonial "Old King's Highway", now a sandy one lane road more often traveled by deer and wild turkey than cars and people.