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OUR COMMUNITY

St. John's Congaree is located in Hopkins, SC.  We are about 11 miles west of Columbia, SC, about 34 miles from Camden, SC, and about 30 miles east of Sumter, SC.  St. John's is part of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina.  Trinity Cathedral and the Diocesan offices are both located in Columbia.  Eastover and Gadsden, SC are small towns adjacent to Hopkins which are a mix of suburban and rural properties.  The church is located near McEntire Joint National Guard Base.  Tree farms, horse pastures, vegetable/fruit farms, and hayfields surround the church.  Congaree National Park, the oldest old-growth flood plain forest in the United States is nearby.  While we are sometimes referred to as "The Church in the Swamp", we enjoy our pastoral environment that leaves most of the noise and traffic at a comfortable distance.

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Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina.  It is a "College Town", home to the University of South Carolina, Benedict College, Allen University, Midlands Technical College, Columbia College, and Columbia International University.

 

With relatively short drives there are numerous shopping venues and malls in and around the Columbia metro area.  Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens offer an opportunity to see and experience plants and animals in a well-maintained zoological environment, one of the ten best zoos in the United States.  The zoo has several special events that are offered to the public at various times during the year.  Soda City Market meets every Saturday morning, offering local vendors and food trucks to the public.  There are numerous parks and green spaces that can be accessed in and around the area as well as the State Farmers Market.  

 

Fort Jackson, the largest US Army Basic Training Base, is an integral part of the Columbia community.  The University of South Carolina Medical School and the Dorn Veterans Hospital share a campus that serves the needs of military veterans in and around the Columbia area.  The South Carolina Military Museum, The South Carolina State Museum, EdVenture Children's Museum, and the Columbia Museum of Art are just some of the many venues that can educate and entertain both young and old.  

 

Sumter is home to Shaw Air Force Base and recently Third Army (from Germany) has been added to the base.  There is a "small-town feel" of shopping and special entertainment in Sumter.  It is a quick drive to a charming town that is in the midst of revitalizing the downtown area.  One attraction, the Swan Lake Iris Gardens, offers a relaxing way to enjoy the beauty of God's creation with less hustle and bustle.

 

Columbia is located at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers, with forms the Congaree River.  This provides many opportunities for canoeing, tubing, and kayaking.  There are also abundant fishing opportunities available in the many lakes and reservoirs that have public access.  Lake Murray and the Santee/Cooper River Lake system are two large lakes well known in the Southeast for fishing and water sporting activities. 

 

There are some 26 golf courses in the Columbia area.  We are two hours from the mountains and the coast, which offer many opportunities for day trips and excursions.  

 

Come join us and design your best South Carolina experience in a community that takes things at a somewhat slower pace than the rest of the world!

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