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Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons.
New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church traces its origin back to the latter quarter of the nineteenth century, when it was a small mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church known as Racker's Mission. At that time, Racker's Mission was located on a farm outside the city limits of Charleston, and in the fall of 1875, Israel Reformed Episcopal Church was organized from this small mission. Mr. Edward A. Forrest--a faithful, aggressive lay reader from Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church-- had brought a small group of eleven men and four women into the Reformed Episcopal Church, which was being organized by The Rev. Benjamin Johnson, evangelist of the South. Although the Reformed Episcopal Church offered Negro Episcopalians equal recognition in the clerical and lay services of the church, unfortunately, Negroes had been denied this privilege in the Protestant Episcopal Church during the stormy days following the “War Between the States.” Consequently, The Rev. George David Cummins, the founder and presiding bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, ordained Mr. Forrest, the church's first leader, deacon on December 17, 1876.
After joining with the Reformed Episcopal Church, however, the congregation was denied the privilege of meeting in the old Racker's Mission building; therefore, they began meeting in the home of one of the founders, who was affectionately known as "Pa" Hammond. After meeting there for approximately fifteen months, the group had collected enough money to buy the plot of land which currently is 71 Simons Street. Because this location was a farm, it took real vision and faith for the congregation to build their much-desired church at this site. Despite their efforts and success in constructing their church, tragedy befell the congregation; the church was destroyed by a storm in 1882, but again, the congregation persevered, and two years later, on August 29, 1884, the cornerstone for Israel Reformed Episcopal Church was laid. The congregation chose the name Israel because they knew that they had power with God. Likewise, history has proven their judgment correct, as the New Israel congregation has become one of the largest congregations in the northwest section of the city of Charleston.
Available church records reveal the founders and charter officers to be Mr. R. D. Simmons, Senior Warden; Mr. Major Hamilton, Junior Warden; Mr. John Worthy, Secretary; "Pa" Hammond, Treasurer and Rev. Edward A. Forrest, Lay Reader. Rev. Forrest, Rev. S. B. Mitchell, and Rev. William Deveaux served as spiritual leaders of the church from 1875-1900, respectively. From 1900 to November 1959, the church was blessed with the spiritual leadership of Rev. Ralph I. S. Broughton, Rev. Charles West, Rev. James H. Blanding, Rev. Thomas Addison, and Rev. John Doiley.
In November of 1959, The Rev. Sanco King Rembert was appointed rector of Israel Reformed Episcopal Church. His appointment ushered the congregation into an era of an abundance of church "firsts,” along with many other blessings which they continue to enjoy today. In 1972, the congregation called Rev. Rembert as rector of Israel RE Church, and in the 1980’s the vestry granted him permission to pursue studies in counseling at the Medical University of South Carolina-- in support of his goal of becoming better prepared to meet the needs of the membership.
Like the founding fathers, Rev. Rembert was a man of great vision; he was dedicated to the cause and showed an insatiable fortitude in carrying forth the Lord's work. Consequently, he became the first black to be consecrated to the office of Bishop in the Reformed Episcopal Church. Furthermore, he fostered, among his congregation, a desire for spiritual and physical growth. As such, the membership at Israel increased, but the church’s physical growth was not meeting the needs of its numerical growth. Not only was the existing house of worship physically deteriorating but also it was becoming too small to accommodate the increasing number of communicant members. Therefore, a committee was formed to explore the feasibility of purchasing a larger, existing building at another site and in 1975-- one hundred years after the organization of Israel Reformed Episcopal Church--a building-planning committee was formed to undertake the task of exploring options for either improving or replacing the existing structure which many members today still refer to as the old church where they would “sit on top of the potbellied stove in order to stay warm!” In 1976, with a communicant roll of 44, a building committee was formed to initiate plans for improving or replacing the existing structure. Members of the building committee were Bishop Sanco King Rembert, Rector; Mr. Sidney McCants, Senior Warden; Mr. Aaron Bryan, Junior Warden; Attorney Russell Brown, Secretary/Legal Counselor; and Mr. Leckyler V. Gaillard. After much negotiating with local banks and church leaders, the committee presented a proposal to the congregation that a new church be built on the existing site at 69-71 Simons Street.
The committee consisted of the following persons: Bishop Sanco King Rembert, Rector; Mrs. Eloise B. Smith, Treasurer; Mr. Leckyler V. Gaillard, Chairman; Attorney Russell Brown, Legal Counselor; Mrs. Sarah Ethel Jackson, Secretary; Mrs. Burena Wright, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. Annabelle Brockington; Mrs. Rebecca Campbell; Mr. Sidney McCants; Mrs. Virginia Joyce Howard; Mr. Morant Singleton; Mr. Vivian Towner; Mr. Theodore Young; Mr. Gussie Dennis, Sr.; Mrs. Annie E.W. Bland; Mr. Melvin Holmes; Mr. Jake Gabe; Mr. Joe Louis Jefferson; Mr. Carol Scott; Mr. McKinley Small; Mr. George Washington; Mr. Louis Chapman; Mrs. Edna Poinsette; Mr. Edward Owens; Mrs. Lillian Spears; Mrs. Mable Thompson and Mrs. Rosalee Warren. The new structure was erected, membership had grown to 130 communicants and on Sunday, August 29, 1977, the parish voted to adopt the church's current name, New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church.
In an effort to meet its goal of becoming a full-service church, New Israel expanded its ministries to include a child development center, The New Israel Christian School-- serving grades Pre-K through 8 and constructed two classroom facilities, at 1091 King Street and 195 Romney Street, respectively. Additionally, several properties, to include the St. Charles Apartments building on King and Romney Street, the Salvation Army building on Simons Street, a single-family home for a senior member of the church, an affordable one-family rental unit, and four undeveloped properties within close proximity of the church. Extensive renovations were made to two properties, 212 Romney Street and 75 Simons Street.
In September 1998, after having served for thirty-nine years as rector-counselor of New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church, The Rt. Rev. Sanco King Rembert retired at the age of seventy-five, as required for clergy by the Canons and Constitution of the Reformed Episcopal Church. At the time of his retirement, the church had made tremendous growth- both spiritually and physically. Because of his faithful service to New Israel RE Church, the parish—upon recommendation from the vestry-- voted to confer upon Bishop Sanco King Rembert the title of rector emeritus. During proceedings of the Annual Synod (Diocese of the Southeast) in September of 1998, the late Rt. Rev. James C. West, Sr., Ordinary appointed The Rev. Canon J. Ronald Moock, Sr. as interim rector of New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church. Rev. Moock’s specific charge was to “bridge the gap” between Bishop Rembert’s almost 40 years of ministry and service to New Israel and the calling of a new rector. Rev. Moock’s tenure was a time of change and transition for him and for the parish; his appointment marked the first time in the history of New Israel Church that the shepherd was a Caucasian.
Rev. Moock was an excellent teacher/preacher and the parish continued its spiritual growth under his leadership. In matters of temporal improvements, the roof to the church was replaced; through partnership with the City of Charleston, two buildings were razed; two loans were retired; and a mortgage payment, which was consolidated and refinanced, resulted in a sizeable reduction in the monthly mortgage payment. In April 2002, after four years of service to New Israel, Rev. Moock’s tenure ended as the parish had called The Rev. Willie J. Hill, Jr. as full-time rector at New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church.
On June 9, 2002 (the Second Sunday after Trinity), The Rev. Willie J. Hill, Jr. was instituted as rector of New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church. Under Rev. Hill's leadership, several ministries were initiated through the efforts of various church auxiliaries. The Women of the Church initiated such ministries as Ruth and Naomi, the Sunshine Ministry, and Sisters Read; the Parish Council initiated the Food Share and Upper Room ministries; and Rev. Hill encouraged the formation of Praise Dance ministries and the Praise Aerobic Ministry. The Anniversary Committee initiated a drama guild, which was later named the Willie J. Hill, Jr. Drama Guild. A new church van was purchased to support all ministries by providing transportation for members who, otherwise, would have been unable to attend Divine Worship and other church related programs and/or activities.
Also, a sizeable grant was obtained to remove lead paint from the Saint Charles Apartments building; however, in 2004, by majority vote, the parish agreed to sell the Saint Charles Apartments. Additionally, on June 16, 2006, the parish authorized the vestry to refinance a church loan, which resulted in a lower interest rate, a reduction in the life of the existing loan, and a substantial reduction in the monthly payment. After approximately eight years of service, Rev. Hill's tenure at New Israel officially ended on August 17, 2010, when the vestry agreed to a separation and dissolution of the pastoral relationship with him.
In September 2010, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Alphonza Gadsden, Sr., Ordinary - DSE appointed The Rev. George Giles as interim rector at New Israel. Rev. Giles served for better than three years in this capacity. ln his humble, quiet, and reserved manner, Rev. Giles blessed the congregation with a bold proclamation of the Lord's Gospel!
By recommendation of the vestry and vote of the parish, The Rev. Julius Washington, Sr. was called in December 2013 to serve as rector at New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church, and on the second Sunday--February 9, 2014--he conducted Divine Worship service. On May 4, 2014, at 4:00 PM at New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church, Rev. Washington was instituted as rector of the church. In addition to fulfilling his pastoral duties, under Rev. Washington’s leadership, the church has been blessed in the following areas:
After serving as rector of New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church for eight years, Rev. Washington had reached the age of seventy-five, the age of retirement for clergy in the Reformed Episcopal Church. As such, he conducted his final Divine Worship service as rector of New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church on Sunday, January 30, 2022.
By action of the vestry, and as agreed upon by The Rt. Rev. William J. White, Ordinary - DSE, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Alphonza Gadsden, Bishop Emeritus - DSE, was named interim rector at New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church, and on February 6, 2022, he conducted his first Divine Worship service as interim rector.
Throughout the history of New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church, God's faithfulness has been evident. Throughout good and bad times, as well as during times of plenty and need, our heavenly Father has been a faithful provider, and as such, He has abundantly met all our needs. TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE! Remember, lest ye forget!