Humble beginnings with two branches

In the 1920s, Catholic lumber workers from Louisiana settled in a rural area known as Four Holes, near Holly Hill. Thanks to the generosity of a local woman, Camillia Barry-Hutto, a chapel was constructed in 1927 to serve this emerging faith community. This mission was initially served by Redemptorist Fathers, who ministered across the lowcountry to include Orangeburg and surrounding rural areas.

By 1945, as the Catholic population shifted toward Holly Hill, Bishop Emmet M. Walsh officially dedicated the chapel under the patronage of St. Anne — with an “e.” The church continued to serve the region until the early 2000s (see photos at bottom of next page).

A shift toward Santee

The 1970s brought change to the area as Santee began attracting retirees and vacationers drawn by Lake Marion and the convenience of I-95. In the early 1980s, weekend Masses began again in Santee under Redemptorist Father Joseph Gorney, first held in a hotel room and later at the Bradford Village Clubhouse.

Following the Redemptorists’ departure in 1995, diocesan priests took over ministerial duties. St. Anne in Holly Hill continued to serve as the spiritual hub, hosting Sunday Masses, Thursday devotions, Monday evening CCD classes and community gatherings.

By 2000, Father Scott Buchanan recognized the need for a larger worship space due to Catholic population growth. Tasked with exploring the unification of the Santee and Holly Hill missions, he recommended Santee as the new central location.

After Father Buchanan’s untimely death in 2001, Father Carl Kaltreider relocated the combined community to a rented space in the Santee Outlet Mall. There, the Santee Catholic Community began organizing events and launching outreach programs, laying the foundation for a future worship space.

Becoming a parish

In 2004, Bishop Robert J. Baker officially merged the Holly Hill and Santee missions to form St. Ann Church, dropping the “e” from the name. Thanks to a generous land donation from parishioner Rosemary Jocius, construction of a permanent church began in late summer 2005. The parish hall, built to serve as a temporary worship space, was completed and dedicated on June 11, 2006. It continues to host Masses and parish events today.

A parish with purpose

Now an active part of the Diocese of Charleston, St. Ann is the spiritual home for approximately 160 people and a welcoming stop for travelers along I-95. Masses are still celebrated in the parish hall, but plans for a larger permanent church remain part of the long-term vision.

As St. Ann approaches its 20th anniversary next year, the parish remains committed to its mission of faith, fellowship and service. Under the current leadership of its pastor, Father Antony Benjamine, a team representing each parish ministry has been commissioned to plan a yearlong celebration of community and evangelization, including a First Responders appreciation meal, a living rosary, dinner for veterans, holiday bazaar and bake sale, a golf tournament 
and many other monthly events for the parish and local community.

Catholics across South Carolina are invited to support and participate in this year of celebration, which culminates in July 2026 with the feast of St. Ann, parish patroness.