On June 17, 1906, a small group of believers formed Effingham Presbyterian Church in a farming communtiy just south of Florence, SC. The church had its beginning a few years earlier, however, in the Tans Bay School in the McLaughlin Community.  A teacher at Tans Bay, Miss Kate McKenzie, conducted a Sunday School in the school house.  Reverend Charles P. Coble, the paster of nearby Hopewell Presbyterian Church, joined Miss McKenzie's missionary efforts by preaching at the school one or two afternoons a month.  The new mission soon moved its meeting place to the Effingham School where Rev. Coble began to conduct regular services.

Long interested in establishing a church in Effingham, Mrs. J.S. McCall, Effingham resident and member of the Florence First (Presbyterian) Church, recognized the mission's potential.  It was largely through her help and influence that the necessary steps were taken to organize the mission into a church.  Upon Rev. Coble's presentation of a 26-name petition to the Pee Dee Presbytery, a commision was formed to perfect church organization. 

The commission met on June 17, 1906, and, after a sermon by Rev. Mr. Clark, the new church to be known as Effingham Presyterian welcomed its founding members: Mrs. J.S. McCall, Miss Emma McCall, Miss Annie McCall, Furman Allen, Mrs. Furman Allen, W.M. Allen, Miss Effie Allen, J.T. Endy, Mrs. Ella McPherson, B.P Hatchell, A.R. McLaughlin, Mrs. A.R. McLaughlin, J.A. McLaughlin, Miss Jennie McLaughlin, J.N. Turner, Mrs. B.H. Turner and Ellie Turner.