Saint James Anglican Church

This year’s Kings Mountain hike had a different feel — our theme was Liberty and History. We camped at the primitive group site at Kings Mountain State Park, a spot that offers just the basics: a water spigot, pit toilet, and easy access to nearby trails and historical sites. One of our hikers brought some plumbing gear and rigged up a makeshift shower — cold, but popular. Next year: maybe hot water!

We kicked things off Thursday with a visit to the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site on our way to Kings Mountain. The interpretive trail there winds nearby the Enoree River and helped set the stage for the weekend. The battle at Musgrove Mill was a small but pivotal Revolutionary War fight, and standing in the place where it happened gave us some early perspective.

On Friday, we took turns reading out the parts of Morning Prayer during the hike along the way to the Kings Mountain National Military Park. The site commemorates one of the most significant Patriot victories in the South — a turning point in the war. Just before setting out on the battlefield trail, we met a man walking his dog who turned out to be an expert on the site. He joined us for the hike and gave an impromptu tour along the way, adding depth and detail we wouldn’t have gotten on our own. As we walked, we talked about what happened there, why it mattered, and how the concept of liberty drove ordinary men to take extraordinary risks.

Saturday was our long hike. We drove to nearby Crowders Mountain and set off on the Ridgeline Trail, which connects to Kings Mountain. It’s a solid day hike with some elevation, rock outcrops, and quiet stretches of forest — a good physical challenge with room for conversation, fellowship, and reflection.

Around the campfire each night, we shared thoughts on what liberty means — not just in a political or historical sense, but personally and spiritually. Three of our group were teenagers, and they contributed to the evening conversations with honesty, thoughtful questions, and a fresh perspective. We held Compline to end each day in prayer and had a service of Communion on Sunday before packing up.

Twelve men took part, representing four churches and two Dioceses: Saint James, St. John’s, Old St. Andrew’s, and Christ the Redeemer in Pendleton. It was a simple weekend — just men, tents, scripture, good food, and honest conversation — grounded in faith and fellowship.

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,…”