St. Michael's Church
Located on Broad and Meeting streets (also known as “The Four Corners of the Law,” St Michael’s Church was completed in 1761. It’s a prime example of Georgian-style architecture which was quite popular in colonial America. The church is perhaps best known for imposing cast-iron gates and its very tall steeple (186 feet). The bells, cast in 1764, still chime today even after being sent to England during the Revolutionary War as spoils of the war. They were eventually returned and restored, along with the organ which originally was made in Ireland two centuries ago. The church, the oldest surviving one in the city, is also popular with tourists who come to marvel at the Tiffany windows.
Mother Emmanuel AME
Referred to as Mother Emmanuel here in Charleston, this house of worship was established in 1816 and is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the South. Since its inception, it has served as an important role— as well as a sanctuary— in the African American community. This Gothic Revival style building, with its famous brown spire, was an important center during the civil rights movement. Tragically, it was also the site of a mass shooting on June 17th 2015 when nine African American church goers were murdered during a Bible study class.
Cathedral of St John
Once known as the Cathedral of St John and St Finbar, the patron saint of Cork, Ireland, the original building was destroyed in a fire here in 1861. The congregation set about erecting a new structure, made from Connecticut brownstone, which was finally complete in 1907. The church features stained glass windows by the German artisans from Franz Mayer & Co, a rare statue of Madonna and Child depicting Mary without a head covering, and the Saint John the Baptist Crypt Chapel, which is the final resting place for the Holy City’s first five bishops.
Grace Church Cathedral
The church, located on Broad Street, was built in 1848 and has survived many disasters from the American Civil War to an earthquake in 1886 to Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Designed by the renowned architect E.B. White (not to be confused with the author of Charlotte’s Web), the church was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style, which was prevalent for houses of worship during the time.
Circular Congregational Church
This 325-year old house of worship is best known for its Romanesque-style round shape including a striking rotunda which creates ideal acoustics for musical concerts. After the original building on Meeting Street was destroyed in a fire in 1681, the church was rebuilt in 1892. Several notable pastors have preached here including Charles Pinckney, a signer of the U.S. Constitution. The church’s cemetery is the oldest English burial ground still in existence in Charleston. The church is also known for its progressive and inclusive community.
Unitarian Church
This the oldest Unitarian church in the South. Construction began in 1772 as a second meeting house for the growing Independent Church congregation. Originally constructed in the Georgian style, the church was transformed into a soaring Gothic structure complete with arched windows and stained glass panels in 1852. The elaborate ornamental plaster ceiling features exquisite vaulting inspired by the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey in England.
French Huguenot Church
The church was founded in 1687 after a group of French Huguenots came to Charleston to escape religious persecution in their homeland. Many of its congregants were of high society. Erected in 1844, the church today is the third structure on the site. With its striking pink and cast iron facade, this Gothic Revival structure stands among the city’s many houses of worship. The interior features vaulted ceilings and colorful glass windows. In 2013, the building was being restored when they discovered under many layers the original color of the church: rosy pink. The church, which is the only independent French Huguenot church in America still conducts a service in French every April to honor its ancestral roots.
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Located in the heart of downtown Charleston, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, is a stunning example of Greek Revival architecture. Constructed in 1840, it represents the oldest Jewish congregation in North America. This historic landmark is a testament to the city’s enduring spirit of inclusivity and diversity.
