United States Marine Corps
Served honorably after graduating from Baptist Hill High School.
Our story · Our faith · Our future
Rooted in faith since 1878.
A legacy born through courage, sustained through worship, and carried forward through generations of faithful service.
Who we are
A spiritual light in the Adams Run community.
At Greater Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church, we are called to exalt Christ, uplift the brokenhearted, and empower all people through the transforming power of the Gospel.
Rooted in our African Methodist heritage and anchored on Old Jacksonboro Road, we are committed to worship, justice, discipleship, and compassionate outreach. We strive to build a beloved community where every generation grows in faith, walks in purpose, and lives in the freedom and fullness of God's grace.
Servant leadership · Faith in actionMeet our pastor
Rev. Leon R. Maxwell
Rev. Leon R. Maxwell began pastoral ministry in January 2003 and now serves his fourth congregation at Greater Saint Mark. He also serves as a full-time Staff Chaplain for the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, following eight years as a Staff Chaplain at Roper Saint Francis Hospital.
A Marine Corps veteran and Lowcountry native, Pastor Maxwell leads with humility, spiritual authority, and a willingness to work alongside the people he serves. His ministry reaches from the sanctuary to hospital rooms, community spaces, and connectional leadership throughout the AME Church.
Our sacred history
The places that held our faith.
These photographs from the church archive connect today's congregation with the generations who worshiped, served, and built before us.
Pastor Maxwell's journey
A servant, scholar, and shepherd.
His preparation brings together military service, technical education, theology, chaplaincy, and decades of compassionate ministry.
Trident Technical College
Associate Degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering.
Allen University & Erskine
B.A. in Religion and Master of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary.
Chaplaincy & Leadership
Clinical Pastoral Education, healthcare chaplaincy, and service across AME and community organizations.
The history of Greater Saint Mark
From a bush tent to a living legacy.
Generations of faith. A story still being written. Explore the chapters that brought us here.
1878
A determined beginning
After their bush tent was torn down under oppressive conditions, the faithful organized another place of worship called Saint Mark. The congregation later became part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the South Carolina Annual Conference.
Those who served
Our pastoral legacy.
We honor the ministers whose leadership, preaching, and service helped carry Greater Saint Mark through each generation.
1891Rev. Andrew Boston
1928Rev. George Baxter
1930Rev. Daniel Chisolm
1933Rev. Henry Smalls
1938Rev. Richard Turner
1942Rev. Arthur A. Washington
1947Rev. Andrew Freeman
1952Rev. Arnold Nero
1953Rev. William A. Wilson / Rev. Matthew W. Brown
1985Rev. Walter Jones
1993Rev. Ernest O. Simmons
1995Rev. George Thomas
1997Rev. Cupid C. Shaw
2006–2012Rev. Harold Jefferson
2012–2014Rev. Curtis Fludd
2014–2020Rev. Bernard E. Johnson
2020–2023Rev. Roteshia H. Jackson
2023–PresentRev. Leon R. Maxwell
Our AME identity
Faith, freedom, order, and service.
AAfricanHeritage & dignityMMethodistFaith & discipleshipEEpiscopalConnection & leadership
History
The African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1816 by Bishop Richard Allen and grew from a pursuit of religious freedom, dignity, and full participation in worship.
Connectional structure
Local churches are connected through presiding elder districts, annual conferences, Episcopal districts, and the General Conference.
Doctrine & Discipline
The Doctrine and Discipline of the AME Church guides theology, church law, leadership, worship, stewardship, accountability, and social witness.
Remembering Those Who Helped Build Our Legacy