South Carolina Legislature Honors St. Peter AME Church With Historical Marker Recognition

The South Carolina Senate voted to formally honor St. Peter AME Church, adopting a resolution in mid-March 2026 that congratulated the congregation on the dedication of its historical marker and commended the church for its years of service to the people of South Carolina.

Senator Jeff Zell, who represents District 36 covering Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties, sponsored the measure as Senate Resolution S. 1017. The resolution's full title read: "A Senate Resolution to Congratulate St. Peter AME Church upon the Dedication of Its Historical Marker and to Commend the Church for Its Many Years of Dedicated Service to the People and the State of South Carolina." The resolution was placed on the Local and Uncontested Calendar before being formally adopted.

The recognition appeared in the routine business of the House and Senate journals for March 2026, placing the church's milestone alongside other official acts of that week's legislative session.

Two additional resolutions moved through the chamber on the same day. Senators Hembree and Johnson sponsored S. 1021, honoring the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, known as CERRA, on its 40th anniversary and designating March 24, 2026, as "CERRA Recognition and Celebration Day." That measure required a procedural detour: Senator Hembree requested unanimous consent to recall it from the Committee on Education and move it to the floor for immediate consideration. There was no objection, and the resolution was adopted. Senator Corbin's S. 1022, recognizing the City of Greer on its 150th anniversary, was also recalled and adopted during the same period of routine business.

For St. Peter AME Church, the Senate's action represents the state's formal acknowledgment of a congregation that has occupied a meaningful place in its community across generations. Historical marker dedications in South Carolina require documentation, community advocacy, and coordination with state preservation offices, making the Legislature's accompanying resolution a capstone to what is typically a years-long process of recognition. Senator Zell's sponsorship signals the weight the church carries within the district he represents, where its history of service has reached the floor of the state Capitol.