Church Torched By KKK Now Owns Klan Property

Charisma News/October 15,1999

A predominantly black church now owns land that belonged to the Ku Klux Klan leader whose members torched the congregation's meeting place. Macedonia Baptist Church in Bloomsville, S.C., has bought seven acres owned by Horace King, the leader of the state's Christian Knights of the KKK.

No money changed hands, though. Instead the $100,000 price will come from the $8 million King owes for his role in the church burning, which happened in 1995, reported the Associated Press. The church won a $21.5 million judgment against the Christian Knights and Klan members.

The church placed the only bid for the Lexington County property--which includes King's home and the KKK's state headquarters--at a sheriff's auction last week, said Sumter, S.C.'s "The Item." The sell-off was the first step in the church's efforts to collect on its awards. "They can build a church on it or whatever they want," said Capt. Gary Morgan of the Lexington County Sheriff's Office.

The church was destroyed when two young Klansmen doused it with gasoline and set it ablaze. A second church in the county was also burned down. Macedonia's pastor, Jonathan Mouzon, later wrote to one of those jailed for the arsons, telling him church members had no hatred for him and were praying for him, reported Columbia's "The State."