St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located in the rural Berkeley County town of St. Stephen, is one of only 125 colonial churches of the Episcopal faith still open for regular services in the United States.
The view above, taken from the southwestern side of the surrounding churchyard cemetery, gives visitors their first glimpse of the church. As you follow the dirt road, your eyes focus on double doors, slightly ajar, inviting you in for a closer examination. St. Stephen’s is a fine example of a small Georgian country chapel. Standing in stately simplicity for over 245 years, it is truly a treasure for our state.
The church originally served St. Stephen’s parish, formed in 1754 from St. James, Santee. The first church in the new parish was constructed of wood and soon deteriorated. By 1767, it had been replaced by this brick edifice. Below is the original church key, displayed within the historic sanctuary.
Though some records, including the National Register, credit Francis Villepontoux and A. Howard for supplying the bricks, the parish records for St. Stephen Episcopal Church, compiled by Jane Searles Misenhelter, list Charles Cantey as the maker of the bricks. The records indicate that 150,000 bricks were ordered from Mr. Cantey after two additional suppliers were rejected. (Thanks to David Dubose of Summerville for contributing this info, as well as a copy of the applicable page of Ms. Misenhelter’s parish records.)
The brother of General Francis Marion, Marion’s nephew, and many of his comrades played roles in the construction of St Stephen’s. Although there is no written record to verify this, it is probably safe to assume that General Marion himself worshiped here occasionally.
Regular services were discontinued in 1808, though the building was maintained and repaired twice during the nineteenth century. This attention to the church building allowed services to easily resume in 1932. The cedar pulpit seen below is said to have been modeled from the one in St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is listed in the National Register of Historic Landmarks and is one of only 76 National Landmarks in South Carolina. It is also listed in the National Register:
St. Stephen’s Church, erected in 1767-1769, is an excellent and well-preserved example of a small Georgian brick country parish church constructed on a rectangular plan. The structure exhibits unusual architectural pretensions, because it includes a high gambrel roof with Jacobean curvilinear gables, exterior Doric pilasters, and an ornamented tray ceiling.
In order to incorporate an ornamented tray ceiling, the high gambrel roof used here is uncommonly heavy and the Palladian window over the altar is too small. The walls are laid in Flemish bond. Doors and windows have fanlights above and are topped by segmental brick arches. Francis Villepontoux and A. Howard provided the brick and acted as architects; William Axson was the master mason. The initials of these men are cut into the brickwork. St. Stephen’s was incorporated in 1788 and regular services were discontinued in 1808. Twice, however, the building was repaired during the 19th century and thus saved from destruction. In 1932 the church was again reopened for regular worship. Listed in the National Register April 15, 1970.
Historic Pictures of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
More Pictures of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Info
Address: 196 Brick Church Circle, St. Stephen, SC 29479
GPS Coordinates: 33.405481,-79.916529
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Map
Take Me There
I wonder if blacks were buried here. I have a record that one of my clan was buried here “Toomer”
Elizabeth Jane White Hood is listed on Find A Grave at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19641328
I’m researching my great-grandparents’ origins and understand that they, along with perhaps some of their children, may be buried in the Church Cemetery. Their names are Abraham Joseph Hood (4/4/1865 – 6/16/1921) and Marrie Byrdic Hood (3/14/1881 – 10/1-1949). Children’s names are Wayne Muller Hood (10/15/1908 stillborn), Clinton Adair Hood (11/9/1898 – 9/20/1909), Bessie Hood Hood (3/3/1915 – 3/15/1915), Elizabeth Jane White Hood (?/?/? – 8/28/1921). I would like to know if there are any church records confirming their burials and how I might access them. Thank you, Ed Davis
The famous Dr. Francis Peyre Porcher, MD, LLD was buried here in 1895. He was a well know herbalist and leader in the CSA medical corps. He was assigned by the Surgeon General of the Confederate Medical corps (Dr. Sam P. Moore) to pen a book on regional herbs and plants for the Confederacy to utilize as the blockade during the Civil War by the North was hurting efforts to supply needed medication for the Southern effort. He went on to do great things post-war as well. MUSC (teaching hospital in Charleston, SC) has a living memorial garden to Dr. Porcher.