GREER—Kip McIntyre and fiancée Stephanie Tuxford feel they were responding to a specific call from God when they opened St. Benedict’s Catholic Bookstore in fall 2012.
McIntyre, who worked in economic development in North Carolina, and Tuxford, who managed a miniature donkey farm in the North Carolina mountains, both said they felt a need to start a business that focused on more than commerce.
“People said we weren’t going to make money with a Catholic store, but the call kept coming and we felt God was guiding us and we were where we were supposed to be,” Tuxford said.
Their building, located on Poinsett Street, includes a chapel and prayer space, and the store draws a steady audience of those who want to learn more about the faith.
The couple carries many items related to older customs. For instance, Tuxford, who wears a chapel veil at Mass as a sign of humility, stocked some shortly after they opened and now it’s nearly impossible to keep them in stock.
Along with books and sacramentals, the pair also offers information about the faith whenever possible.
“If someone comes in here and wants to buy a rosary, we’re not just going to sell it to them — if they don’t know how to pray it, we’ll show them,” Tuxford said.
She has also taken customers to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Prince of Peace Church in nearby Taylors and brought several people to daily Mass.
“We want this to be a place where Catholics can learn more about their faith, but also where people who have left the church or those who are not Catholic can come and learn in an atmosphere that is truly Catholic,” McIntyre said. “We are being called to evangelize.”
St. Benedict’s is located at 900 W. Poinsett St. For more information, call (864) 801-1830 or visit www.facebook.com/StBenedictsCatholicStore
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