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St. Michael's Episcopal Church

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Known for its towering steeple, St. Michael's Episcopal Church is the oldest church building in Charleston. It was constructed between 1752 and 1761 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. St. Michael's is an excellent example of Georgian architecture and was the first colonial church in America to include a two-story portico. The architect is unknown but it is believed the church is modeled after the St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London, England. The portico features four large Tuscan columns and the steeple reaches a height of 185 feet. The steeple houses eight bells and what is perhaps the oldest-working colonial clock tower in country. President George Washington and General Robert E. Lee both worshipped here. The church is home to an Anglican congregation that is affiliated with the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina.

Images

St. Michael's Episcopal Church was built between 1752 and 1761. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Sky, Wheel, Car, Cloud

Inside, the church features box pews, a gallery, and many decorative elements.

Interior design, Architecture, Hall, Symmetry

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

St. Michaels is located on the site where an Anglican church, a small wood-frame building, once stood. Named St. Philip's, it was erected in the 1680s and was the first Anglican church south of Virginia. The second church was built 1727 on Church Street to provide more space to the growing congregation. In 1751 it was clear again that another church was needed and the construction of the present church began the next year (the 1727 church was later destroyed by fire in 1835). The first service was held on February 1, 1761.

The interior is architecturally impressive. It features two sets of long box pews built of native cedar, a wooden gallery supported by fluted columns, and the original pulpit. A half dome is located at the east side of the building where the altar is. The center of the ceiling is bordered by Greek fret ornamentation and a decorative cornice. The large chandelier was manufactured in London in 1803 and first lit using candles, then gas, and then electricity.

The church has had an interesting history. In the years after its construction, it became a center for resistance against the British. During the war, locals painted the steeple Black in hopes of making it a harder target for British ships to hit. However, the Black paint made it easier to see. The lead roof was also melted down to make bullets. The tower was used as a lookout on during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. It was also a fire lookout until 1882 when it was replaced by an electric fire alarm system. The church has also survived earthquakes, fires, and cyclones.

Sources

Dillon, James. "St. Michael's Episcopal Church." October 15, 1966. National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/66000704_text.

"History." St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Accessed April 12, 2021. https://stmichaelschurch.net/about/history.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Both images via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St._Michael%27s_Episcopal_Church_(Charleston,_South_Carolina)

Additional Information