Our History

Epworth Children’s Home was established in 1895 by the South Carolina Annual Conference of the Methodist Church and chartered by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly as Epworth Orphanage.

The land for Epworth Orphanage was originally the Congaree Racetrack and extended over 130 acres. From the first two children who were admitted on January 20, 1896, the Orphanage grew rapidly to house 100 children by the year 1900. During the 30’s, 40’s and early 50’s, Epworth was at an all time high of more than 350 children. Epworth consisted of a large farm, print shop and marble yard. The children worked at least four hours a day and attended school for five hours. By the end of World War II, the administration recognized that most of the children were not orphans, but came from families which were broken and in conflict. The name “Epworth Children’s Home” was adopted in 1951. During the late 1950’s and 1960’s most of the buildings on campus were razed and new cottages were built. In 1965 the farm was sold and an Endowment was established. By 1975, the population of the campus was 144. Children were residing two to a room, a drastic change from when 30 children would live in one cottage and reside five to a room. In 1996 Epworth celebrated its 100th birthday.