“H” is for Hart, Oliver (1723-1795). Clergyman. A native of Pennsylvania, Hart was one of the most influential religious, social, and political leaders of the pre-Revolutionary War South. In 1749 he accepted a call from the Charleston Baptist Church, a position he would hold for thirty years—leading the church in the Regular Baptist tradition. From Pennsylvania, he brought with him the association as an organizational form that would eventually lead to a state convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. By 1777, he had become an activist for religious freedom in South Carolina. His involvement in the Revolutionary cause, especially in the recruitment of support for the patriot cause, both in Charleston and the backcountry forced him and his family to flee for safety. Oliver Hart was a champion of liberty, equality, and cooperation among Christians.
“H” is for Hart, Oliver (1723-1795)
