Snake Handling Churches Turn To SC For Venomous Snakes

Columbia, SC– Snake handling is a religious ritual a small number of isolated churches continue, and it has a close connection to the WCCB viewing area.

When some of these churches need snakes for worship, they head to South Carolina.

Sacred serpent rituals happen nearly every Sunday at Pentacostal churches tucked into the Appalachian Countains.

“It’s a command of Jesus Christ. If you believe it, you can do it,” said Pastor Jimmy Morrow. “The only one I fear is God.”

Morrow preaches at Edwina Church of God in Jesus Christ’s Name.

He’s open about handling venomous snakes outside Asheville.

“We’ve got freedom of religion,” said Morrow.

South Carolina is one of the only states you can still legally buy venomous snakes.

“It’s an interesting thing that we have here because it’s kind of low key,” said Capt. Robert McCullough “It’s very underground.”

Capt. McCullough works for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. He says many people didn’t even know about the lax law until the death of Pastor Jamie Coots made headlines.

He died in 2014 after handling a snake at his Kentucky church.

Police say he got that snake from South Carolina.

Capt. McCullough says Repticon has a show in Columbia this weekend with venomous snakes.

“A lot of people come in and come to those shows, and that’s where they make purchases,” said Capt. McCullough.

Grover Barfield will be there.

He runs Carolinas Reptile Rescue and Education Center in Mount Holly.

He showed WCCB Charlotte which snakes churches typically use.

They are deadly timber rattlers, endangered diamond backs and copperheads.

Barfield says some snakes only survive the church life for a matter of months.

“I would like to not see any of them in a church because it stresses them out to be handled. Particularly, if they are agitating them to try to get them to strike,” said Barfield.

Pastor Morrow says he catches his own snakes, feeds them and turns them loose for winter.

Barfield points to the importance of protecting all snakes to keep the ecosystem balanced.

That’s one reason the DNR is working with South Carolina lawmakers to regulate snake sales.

“We will look at other states and see what their laws are and will find ones that we like,” said Capt. McCullough.

That could be why some churches stay quiet, to cling to their way or worship.

“We’ve been the most persecuted church in the history of the United States,” said Morrow.