• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SC Picture Project

The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

  • FIND A LANDMARK
    • BY CITY
    • BY COUNTY
    • BY CATEGORY
    • BYGONE LANDMARKS
  • ADD IMAGES
  • VOLUNTEER
  • SPONSORS
  • DONATE

St Stephen’s Episcopal Church

SC PICTURE PROJECT 4 Comments

SC Picture Project / Berkeley County / St Stephen’s Episcopal Church

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.

St Stephens Episcopal Church

Elizabeth Carroll of St. Stephen, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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.

St. Stehphen's Episcopal Interior

Don Fraser of Seneca, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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 By 1767, it had been replaced by this brick edifice.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.

St. Stephen's Church Key

Thia Beniash of Ladson, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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.)

St. Stephen Interior Berkeley

Thia Beniash of Ladson, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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.

St. Stephen Episcopal Church Rear

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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 Episcopal Pulpit

Don Fraser of Seneca, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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


St. Stephen Episcopal Church Historic Photo

South Caroliniana Library, Works Progress Administration, 1930-1940

More Pictures of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church


St. Stephen's Episcopal

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2004 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Stpehen's Berkeley County

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2004 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

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

Plan Your Trip: St Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Where is St Stephen’s Episcopal Church located?
Address: 196 Brick Church Circle, St. Stephen, SC 29479
GPS Coordinates: 33.405481,-79.916529
Website: http://www.ststephensepiscopalchurchsc.com/
What else should I see?
Pineville Chapel 10.8 miles
Suttons United Methodist Church 13.5 miles
Maude Callen Clinic 13.9 miles
Tower Hill Plantation 14.1 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Churches
  • See other South Carolina National Register
    St Stephen’s Episcopal Church Map

    Please Help Us Stay Online

    We’d like thank everyone who generously supports the South Carolina Picture Project. You provide us with the inspiration and financial support we need to keep doing what we do. Every reader’s contribution, larger or small, is valuable. If you have enjoyed this website or found it helpful, please pitch in. Each donation helps – and it only takes a minute. Thank you!

    Support the SC Picture Project!

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    You may also like

    You may also like

    Pineville ChapelPineville Chapel Strawberry Chapekl GraveyardStrawberry Chapel Saint Thomas and Saint DenisSt. Thomas & St. Denis Church Pinopolis United Methodist ChurchPinopolis Methodist Church Default ThumbnailTaveau Church

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Faith White says

      February 20, 2018 at 11:02 AM

      I wonder if blacks were buried here. I have a record that one of my clan was buried here “Toomer”

      Reply
    2. Sharon F. Corey says

      March 26, 2014 at 2:16 PM

      Elizabeth Jane White Hood is listed on Find A Grave at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19641328

      Reply
    3. Ed Davis says

      July 12, 2013 at 12:25 PM

      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

      Reply
    4. JP Saleeby, MD says

      June 16, 2013 at 11:46 AM

      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.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    FIND A LANDMARK

    Why This Site Matters

    Help Keep This Site Online

    We depend on the support of today’s readers to document South Carolina’s landmarks for future readers. Please help us continue this important work by making a donation below.

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    Recent Posts

    • H.L. Hunley
    • Strand Theater
    • Camden Depot
    • Charleston City Marina
    • Secession Hill

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    Footer

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    CONTACT US

    We’d love to hear from you! Send us a quick email at share@scpictureproject.org.

    If you are looking for permission to use a photo, please reach out directly to the photographer listed in the image’s credit.

    JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

    The South Carolina Picture Project has two Facebook groups. One is dedicated to SC Historic Landmarks and Iconic Landscapes, and the other is dedicated to SC Nature and Wildlife.

    South Carolina Picture Project © 2022 · All Rights Reserved