Historic Churches

Known as the second oldest church building on the Charleston peninsula, this Gothic Revival/English Gothic church was consecrated in 1787. The original purpose of the church was to handle the overflow of churchgoers from the First Independent Church of Charleston. Throughout its existence, the church has survived two wars, six major hurricanes, two devastating fires, and an earthquake.

With construction first starting in 1752 and completion of the church in 1761, St. Michael’s Church is the oldest church in the Holy City. One of the church’s most notable visitors was the first President of the United States, George Washington; during his visit to Charleston in 1791, Washington stopped in for a prayer. St. Michael’s Church stands on the crossroads of the “Four Corners of the Law,” where you will find City Hall, the County Courthouse, the United States Post Office, and the Federal Courthouse.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church is probably the most recognizable church in Charleston. A part of the Anglican Church of North America, St. Philips Episcopal Church is the oldest congregation in the United States south of Virginia. The building was completed in 1838. In its churchyard are the graves of Vice President John C. Calhoun, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Edward Rutledge, and Dubose Heyward, author of “Porgy” — on which the Gershwin opera “Porgy and Bess” was based. Standing high above the city, St. Philip’s is often called “The Lighthouse” as its steeple was once used as a lighthouse to guide ships into the Charleston Harbor.

With a history dating back to at least 1681 when it was established by English Congregationalists, Scotch and Irish Presbyterians, and French Huguenots of the original Charles Towne settlement, this church houses the city’s oldest burial grounds. The original structure was destroyed by fire in 1861 and damaged by the 1886 earthquake. The present building opened in 1892.

The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, often called Mother Emanuel, stood as a beacon for African Americans before and during the Civil War. Denmark Vesey, one of the church’s founders, was tried as a member of a slave revolt plot and later executed alongside other organizers. But the church still stands as a symbol of freedom with leaders like Booker T. Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Coretta Scott King visiting. The current church, built in 1891, replaced an earlier church badly damaged in the earthquake of 1886.

Known as the birthplace of American Reform Judaism, The Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim was founded in 1749 and is one of the oldest Jewish congregations on the East Coast. The original structure was destroyed by fire in 1838 and rebuilt by one of the members, along with at least two enslaved artisans. The synagogue member was named David Lopez, and the two enslaved artisans were trained carpenters named Kit and George. The current building was finally rebuilt and completed in 1840.

Construction on this antebellum cathedral started on July 30, 1830, with the structure being able to seat up to 1,200 people and costing $103,000 to build. About 30 years later, in 1861, a fire ravaged a large portion of Charleston, including this cathedral. After years of fundraising, the church was rebuilt beginning in January of 1890. One of the most notable parts of this cathedral is the unique stained glass windows above each entrance. Each of the stained glass windows includes the Papal coat of arms and the seal of the state of South Carolina.

The First Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1682 in Kittery, Maine. In late 1696, the pastor William Screven gathered 28 members of the congregation and moved to Charleston. The church lays claim to being the oldest Baptist church in the South. The congregation moved into its Robert Mills-designed building in 1820.

With a 250-year-old history, this church was founded by German immigrants in 1742 and is the mother church for all South Carolina Lutherans. Due to its long-standing history, St. John’s Lutheran Church is one of the oldest congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in America. The church’s design was thanks to Frederick Wesner, a well-known Charleston architect and church member. The present building began construction in 1816 and was completed in 1818. One of the building’s most notable features is the church’s red doors, a feature that is commonly found in connection with Lutheran churches.

The current church was completed in 1845, but its congregation goes back to 1681 when French Protestants fled persecution at home. Once a year, the church performs services in French to recognize its past. This is the only remaining independent Huguenot Church in America. Throughout its time, the church has lived through substantial damages such as shellfire during the lengthy bombardment of downtown during the Civil War and it was almost completely demolished in the Charleston earthquake of 1886.