The Unknown Celebrity of Bethel United Methodist Church

A very fascinating thing to do while researching a graveyard is to find out if anyone famous is buried there. At Bethel United Methodist Church we believe Reverend John Mood deserves to be recognized as a famous and prominent member of the graveyard. "Who is Rev. John Mood?", you may ask.

Reverend John Mood (geni.com)

Rev. John Mood was born on January 11, 1792, to a family of German silversmiths in Charleston, South Carolina. Today, the silverware they crafted is very sought after and valuable.

His father, Peter Mood Sr. brought John and his brother Peter Mood Jr. into the silversmith business. The name of the business was "Mood & Sons". Later, when their father died they created the J & P Mood partnership. However, that eventually ended due to financial downfall from a robbery when their entire stock was stolen by an employee who got their head clerk drunk and stole the shop key from them. They made spoons, slave badges, pitches, and equipment for Confederate cavalry during the Civil War. You can find gravings of their signatures in the silverware. Source: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Photos courtesy of Green-Wood.

Mood's silversmith mark

Slave Badge

Salt Spoon

Now you probably noticed the "Reverend" in front of John Mood's name. Not only was he a silversmith but also a Methodist preacher. He was born a Lutheran. His father is actually buried at St. John's Lutheran Church in Charleston. John however became Methodist and a very common belief in this denomination was anti-slavery. Rev. John Mood taught black Methodist preachers how to read and write. During the same year that they were hired to make the slave badges, he was the first to establish a Sabbath school for the negro in the city of Charleston. He even once bought a man being auctioned off for slavery just to free him. I believe these are the true reasons he should be recognized as a prominent member of the graveyard. Source: Green-Wood.

He died on March 1, 1864, when he was 72 years old. He is buried at Bethel United Methodist Church.

Rev. John Mood ledger (Findagrave.com)

Bethel UMC

Bethel UMC Graveyard