Welcome to this episode, where Charles Egleston, seasoned researcher and archivist shares a bit about his discoveries around the history of Black Episcopalians and congregations made up of people of color who were enslaved during the 19th century in South Carolina.

Topics discussed include the first Episcopal Church in South Carolina, the Wateree Chapel in 1820 by William Clarkson and the first Black Episcopal clergy person, Thaddeus Saltus in 1881. The bishop and Charles also talk about the humanization of people who were enslaved through the recording of marriages in sacramental registers, sometimes the only existing historical record of those people of God, and how the memorization of The Lord's Prayer and Nicene Creed (along with a written copy of those prayers) was a surreptitious way to open the door to literacy.

Other tidbits include small histories for some of the Black congregations in our diocese, the proper way to say Huger Street and the Huguenots coming to Columbia, and the bishop talking about the joy he felt reading the past bishops' journals and discovering how similar his schedule is now to what his predecessors were doing 200 years ago (hint: they were all BUSY!).

Join us on this rich journey through our South Carolina history.

To see pictures from the bishop and Jessica's visit to the archive as well as some research materials provided by Egleston, click here.

To see the archive, or to inquire further, contact Egleston at his e-mail address.

Today's episode is the first of The Percolator: not an interview, but a conversation that brews deep thoughts and fills you with energy.

Join us as we consider the middle of the Gospel of John - specifically a contrasting look at Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well. This discussion includes how we approach Jesus and share our faith, from a place of light or darkness, and how we show up as witnesses to that faith in our world during challenging times.

Later in the episode, we briefly lift up two black saints of the church, Moses the Black and Augustine of Hippo as we remember that our tradition is rooted in the Middle East and North Africa and to keep our picture of Christ global.

01:28 - Gospel of John review

15:40 - Lifting up the work of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Moses the Black and Augustine of Hippo.

19:15 - A sneak peek of our next guest, South Carolina Black History researcher Charles Egleston.

In today's episode the bishop sits down with Sister Ellen Francis, Order of St. Helena (OSH) to do a bit of demystification of monastic orders of The Episcopal Church. What does monastic life look like in our church? Do they pray "the hours"? Do they wear their habit all the all? As part of their discussion, they'll also talk about the ways in which the OSH has de-gendered prayer language in the daily office, what people could expect if they visited their home for a silent retreat weekend, and other interesting tidbits...listen for the story of the fiercely-loved cookie jar!

00:02:45 - Inclusive language in the daily office

00:08:00 - The prayer life of the monastic community

00:14:05 - The stability of living in monastic community

00:20:00 - Religious Life Sunday in the church

00:24:30 - You're invited to silent retreat weekends at the OSH

00:26:00 - Questions from the diocese

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Mentioned in today's podcast is The Order of St. Helena's Daily Office prayer app. Get that at the App Store or on Google Play.

Relevant Links:

The Order of St. Helena can be found on line at their website at https://www.osh.org.

ReligiousLifeSunday.net

Have a quick cup with the chief pastor of The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina as he explains our new podcast, Coffee with the Bishop. Each month, two-to-three episodes will drop as he talks with people all over our diocese and the world about all things Episcopal and coffee, too. Grab your favorite blend and pull up a chair.