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St. Philip’s Church

SC PICTURE PROJECT 6 Comments

SC Picture Project / Charleston County / St. Philip’s Church

Established in 1680, St. Philip’s Church is home to the oldest congregation in South Carolina. The current church, located at 146 Church St in Charleston‘s French Quarter, was completed in 1838 and is the third to serve its congregation. The first church was a modest, wooden building constructed in 1681 on the present-day site of St. Michael’s. With the congregation growing, a larger brick church was authorized on the current site in 1710.

St. Philip's Church

Robbie Silver of Mt. Pleasant, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

It wasn’t completed until 1723 due to Indian wars and damage from hurricanes. This church would house the congregation for over a century, until it was destroyed by a fire in 1835. Work on the present church began later that same year. After the fire, the congregation moved into its temporary home in the Tabernacle at Cumberland Street Methodist Episcopal Church. It remained there until 1838, when its new church was finished. The steeple, designed by noted architect Edward Brickell White, wasn’t completed until over a decade later, in 1850.

St. Philips Church from Circular Congregational Church Cemetery

Mike Haworth of Lexington, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Several notable South Carolinians, including governors Charles Pinckney and Edward Rutledge, are buried in the St. Philip’s cemetery. The cemetery exists around the church and across Church Street.

St. Philips Cemetery

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The photo below was taken by Dr. F.F. Sams, an esteemed doctor and photographer in the Charleston area, his photos were taken with a homemade camera. The image was contributed by his grandson and namesake, Franklin Sams. Much of Dr. Sams work can be seen in the archives of the Charleston Museum. The photo shows the St. Philips Church as it appeared during a snowstorm in 1903.

St. Philips Church

Courtesy Franklin Sams of Edisto Island © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philip’s, a National Historic Landmark, is also listed in the National Register

The present church building is the third structure to house the oldest congregation in South Carolina (established 1681). The building, without the steeple, was designed by Joseph Hyde and constructed by 1836. The spire was designed by Edward Brickell White and constructed between 1848 and 1850. The church is stuccoed brick with a single tier of windows on either side. There are three Tuscan porticos. The interior has a high vestibule, is in the style of an auditorium with high Corinthian arcades, a plaster barrel vault, galleries and an apsidal chancel. There are notable wrought-iron gates to the front of the building. The chancel and apse were altered, after a fire in 1920, by Albert Simons, architect. The spire is set upon a square stuccoed brick base with oculi; the steeple is octagonal with pilasters and oculi; the octagonal spire is capped with a weather vane. The imposing tower, perhaps massive for the portico beneath, is appropriately in the Wren-Gibbs tradition.

St. Philips Church – Interior


St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philips Church – Chapel


This stucco over brick chapel sits in the back corner of the expansive cemetery at St. Philips Church. Built sometime prior to 1850, the chapel was originally used for speciality services throughout the year. Today, the structure is known as Chapel of the Good Shepherd and hosts weekly Sunday School services.

St. Phillips Church Chapel

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The organ, seen along the back wall of the chapel, was built by the famed craftsman, Thomas Appleton in 1829. Originally stored in the Charleston Orphans House chapel, the organ was moved to the Seamnan’s Home chapel in 1920 and finally was moved here in 1966 when the Seaman’s chapel closed. It is one of the oldest surviving Appleton made organs.

St. Phillips Church Chapel Interior

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on St. Philips Church


Shane Blackburn, who contributed the photo below, shares: “Upon my first step on Church Street over 20 years ago, I fell deeply in love with this vista of the French Huguenot Church and St. Philip’s Church. In all honesty, after traveling the world, this is my most favorite spot I ever been to. I have literally sat under the lantern of the Pirate House and stared at St. Philips for hours. It was a perfect quiet morning.

Huguenot Church and St. Philips in the distance

Shane Blackburn of Bonifay, FL, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

More Pictures of St. Philips Church


St. Philips Church Aerial

Ben Sumrell of Mount Pleasant, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St Philips Church

John Birkenheuer of Charleston, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philip's Church

Nick Livingston of Charleston, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philip's Church

Robbie Silver of Mt. Pleasant, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

St. Philip's Charleston

Elvis Vaughn of Greer © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: St. Philip’s Church

Where is St. Philip’s Church located?
Address: 142 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401
GPS Coordinates: 32.77887,-79.92947
Website: http://www.stphilipschurchsc.org/
What else should I see?
Pirate House 0 mile
French Huguenot Church 0.1 mile
Philadelphia Alley 0.1 mile
Dock Street Theatre 0.1 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Charleston Historic Sites
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    St. Philip’s Church Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fran Jehrio says

      April 18, 2021 at 7:46 PM

      Did the St. Philip’s Church have a name inscribed on one of facades?

      Reply
    2. Gayle McCarl says

      December 21, 2020 at 8:16 PM

      I found a birth or baptism record once at St. Phillips Church for William Murphy born Aug. 6, 1771. I would like to locate that website again. Would you know of a website of those records? Sincere, Gayle

      Reply
    3. James D McCann says

      January 26, 2019 at 10:49 AM

      I truly love the history of this page, and the photos are a blessing. Thank you so much.

      Reply
    4. SA'Rah White says

      November 12, 2017 at 1:29 AM

      Do you have any slave records of my anchestors who went to the school there? The name was Laderous White, Selena White, Charotte White overseer was Malucley White. Thank you!

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        November 12, 2017 at 1:30 PM

        We do not have any official records onsite but we recommend reaching out to the Center for Family History at the Internal African American Museum in Charleston. They are a community focused program who help users understand how to search records and provide assistance, they are the best of the best. Here is the link to contact them: https://cfh.iaamuseum.org/contact/

        Reply
    5. Coker's Crossing HOA says

      April 4, 2015 at 2:37 PM

      One of the many reasons Charleston, South Carolina is referred to as the Holy City. This church is beautiful inside and out. I encourage you to see this beautiful church on one of your trips into town. It's history alone makes it worth the visit.

      Reply

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    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.

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