St. Anne’s is located about sixteen miles from Myrtle Beach in the historic river town of Conway, South Carolina. We are one of four Episcopal churches within a region known as the Grand Strand, one of the fastest-growing regions in America. Conway’s population increased from 17,103 in 2010 to 24,849 in 2020, with the fastest growth being those 50 and older.

While Conway is rapidly growing, its roots run deep as one of the oldest towns in South Carolina, first as Kingston, then Conwayborough, then Conway. The town’s historic lumber industry survives to this day. Conway provides easy access to the region’s history and modern tourist attractions. Within a twenty-minute drive of St. Anne’s, you can visit century-old farmlands and the tourist attractions of Myrtle Beach.

Cultural Landscape

Conway is built on the ancestral lands of the Waccamaw tribe, whose name is carried along the river that winds through the city. The city is located within the federally-designated Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and is surrounded by some of the most prolific historic rice, lumber, and tobacco plantations, which enslaved more than 30,000 Africans. The shared agricultural traditions of this region span across Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and White populations, with the largest crops being tobacco, cotton, rice, and indigo.

Surrounded by these farmlands and located on the main water transportation highway of the PeeDee, Conway serves as the intellectual and educational capital of the surrounding region. Its historic district dates back to the 1700s, and within the city limits are several historically Black neighborhoods, including the Racepath Community, which leads to Whittemore High School.

Religious Landscape

St. Anne’s is one of four Episcopal congregations in the Grand Strand Area. The others are Holy Cross Faith Memorial in Pawleys Island, St. Stephen’s in North Myrtle Beach, and the Church of the Messiah in Myrtle Beach.

The City of Conway has a high concentration of Christian churches spanning a wide range of persuasions, from AME to Catholic to non-denominational and including Quaker and Seventh Day Adventist congregations as well as Baha’i and Muslim communities. Looking into the Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach areas, you will find Eastern Orthodox churches along with Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jewish synagogues, a Messianic synagogue, a Universal Unitarian Church, and a newly-built Hindu temple in the Market Common area of Myrtle Beach. 42.6% of Horry County residents report attending church.

St. Anne’s strives to be a consistent collaborator with all institutions of faith and justice in our region.

Schools

Horry County schools rank #2 in the state as the Best Places to Teach, #4 in the state for the Best Teachers, and #11 of Best School Districts overall (Niche). It’s also in the top third of most diverse schools. The schools closest to St. Anne’s are Conway Elementary (.9 miles away), Conway Middle School (1 mile away), and Conway High School (1.6 miles away).

Conway also hosts the main campuses of Horry Georgetown Technical College and Coastal Carolina University, the county’s largest employer. HGTC provides innovative professional and associate degrees in fields like Culinary Arts, Digital Arts, and Criminology. Coastal Carolina University is a premier public regional liberal arts university ranked #7 as Best Value Schools in the South, with innovative programs in Marine Science, Sustainability, and Physical Theatre. A large number of our congregants work at Coastal Carolina University and our own crest reflects a chevron of Chanticleer teal in homage to our formation.

Housing

Housing around Conway ranges from new construction to early 20th-century homes to mid-century apartments. Many of the residences from the Waccamaw to St. Anne’s are walkable to the downtown district. Median household income is $51,570, with the average individual income of about $30,000. In Horry County, 14.5% of our population lives at or below the poverty line, but as the county becomes more developed and populous, that number continues to decline.

The beauty of the Grand Strand area is its distinct towns and neighborhoods. St. Anne’s is in Conway, but many of our congregants live outside of city limits in neighboring Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, and unincorporated parts of Horry County, where house prices tend to be lower. Our congregation is well-connected with local realtor experts to help our new rector find a home that will work for their situation.

Demographics

Conway’s population is 60% white and 34% Black or African American, while Horry County as a whole has a population of 365,579 that is 77% white, 13% African American, and 6% Hispanic; the Hispanic population has been steadily increasing over the last five years. Horry County has the highest percentage of foreign-born residents of its region (6.59%), above the state average of 5%.

The Human Rights Campaign ranked Myrtle Beach the third most LGBTQ-friendly city in South Carolina (behind Charleston and Columbia).

Recreation and Cultural Life

The City of Conway and the surrounding region are experiencing growth in restaurants, shopping, and recreational experiences. There is a wide variety of activities happening weekly around the area for all ages and interests. The walkable downtown City of Conway hosts a community theatre, children’s theatre, art gallery, historic museum, library, and several murals around historic downtown. Conway Downtown Alive hosts a number of events open to the public including Halloweentown, Celebration of Lights, Waccamaw Sportsmen’s Expo, and Gullah Geechee Day. During the Christmas Season, Conway shops stay open on Thursday evenings for candlelight shopping, camel rides, hot cider, and holiday cheer. In warmer months, the Green transforms from Santa’s Village to a music venue for weekend concerts. If the timing is right, you might even catch one of the many foodie events such as the Chocolate Walk, Burger Week, or Wine Around. In addition to our downtown, Horry County is home to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Long Bay Symphony, and Ripley’s Aquarium along with a range of family-friendly tourist attractions.

Below are several links to event calendars for the region.

The area also hosts a number of natural refuges and land and river trails, where one can enjoy one of the last unmitigated Black waterways in the nation.

  • Horry County is home to twenty-three of South Carolina’s Trails including Conway River Walk, Crabtree Swamp, Myrtle Beach State Park, Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve, and Heritage Shores Nature Preserve.
  • Waccamaw Riverkeepers of Winyah River Alliance is an Alliance of Riverkeepers protecting our rivers for fishing, swimming, and drinking. The mission is to protect, preserve, monitor, and revitalize the health of the lands and waters of the greater Winyah Bay watershed with a Vision for clean water and healthy communities.
  • South Carolina Seven (SC7) is a partnership between two South Carolina-based non-profit organizations, Global Eco Adventures and the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. The mission of SC7 is to get people in the outdoors so they gain an appreciation for the outdoors, and therefore begin to actively do their part to protect the outdoors. SC7 engages leaders & citizens in the protection and enjoyment of South Carolina’s natural resources.
  • Brookgreen Gardens, a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve, located just south of Murrells Inlet in Georgetown County. The 9,100-acre property includes several themed gardens featuring American figurative sculptures, botanical gardens, Lowcountry Zoo, and trails through several ecosystems in nature reserves on the property.
  • Huntington Beach State Park lies across Highway 17 from Brookgreen Gardens and offers undeveloped beaches, nature trails, and camping.