It was sheer curiosity that drive me to visit
the campgrounds of the Shady Gove
Campground Annual gathering. I traveled
to one of my Auntie’s to learn about this
cultural and religious observation. In this
experience, I was shocked and
overwhelmed by this gathering and the
continuity of this legacy.
My curiosity was triggered by my fellow
cousins who reside in South Carolina and
their passion for this event. It struck my as
strange that this was not something that I
heard my Dad, nor his siblings talking about
it. However, the older I became, the more
aware I was “Camp Meeting!” So, I finally
decided it was time for me to check it out
for myself.
The Shady Grove Camp Meetings convenes
from the 3 rd Sunday to the 4 th Sunday, of
October. This year is the 154 th year of Camp
Meeting. I heard that there was a lot of
food being cooked and families
fellowshipping from tent to tent. I looked
forward to seeing what all the talk was
about!!!

Upon our arrival,
I was shocked at
what was being
called tents, that
appeared to me
as little huts.
Huts that seemed to be worn, shabby, and

unattractive. I asked, “Auntie, what is
this?” She said, “Its Camp Meeting!” I
quieted my spirit and my mouth to embrace
what I was
experiencing. We drove around the entire
campgrounds; and there were 100 tents
(my opinion huts), that are very close to
each other. The tents were filled with their
family members that were mingling, and
some were busy cooking. Our first tent visit
was #93. The tent
owner was my
Auntie’s
classmate. She
stated she’s been
doing this all of
her life. She encouraged my Auntie, to take
me to tent with the history of what I was
seeing.
I learned that the Shady Grove
Campgrounds was established about 1870
and is one of four United Methodist
campgrounds in Dorchester County, South
Carolina. This tradition began when a group
of “freed slaves,” stopped in a grove for
shelter from a storm. A rice planter asked
them to help harvest his fields, in exchange
for a place to worship. They name it Shady
Grove. This began the campground services
and fellowship. Per the lady in the hut with
the history, the families remain the
generational families of the original freed

slaves. Mr. Ceaser Wolf was one of the
founders (an in-law’s great grandfather),

this site. The worshippers gather night at
the Tabernacle, which is located in the
center the grounds, surrounded by the
tents. The shofar (horn) is blown and the
people began to gather for the services.
Then, they return to their tents

for the breaking of bread. The services have
become a melting pot for the various
denominations. Some travel from long
distance and some are around the bend,
but they don’t want to miss this experience.