Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul (Charleston, South Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Anglican Church in North America |
| District | Diocese of South Carolina |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Leadership | Charles F. Edgar, III, Bishop of South Carolina R. Peet Dickinson, IV, Dean |
| Location | |
| Location | Coming Street Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Gothic |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Website | |
| www.your-cathedral.org | |
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul is an important church in Charleston, South Carolina. It's the main church, or 'cathedral,' for the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. When it was first built, it was called St. Paul's Radcliffeboro.
Contents
Building History and Design
Building the church started in 1811. Its design, called Neo-Gothic, was common back then. Inside, it was mostly plain, except for the chancel (the area around the altar). This part was beautifully painted with fancy columns that had gold tops. Even after a hurricane in 1989, when the church was fixed up, they tried to use the same colors and designs from 1815.
The Church During the Civil War
The church stayed open during the American Civil War. It even welcomed people from other churches that were closer to the Union army's strongholds. Union cannons were constantly firing at the city. The church's bell was taken down and sent to Columbia. It was melted down to help the Confederate army.
Changes Over Time
Most of the church's inside looks much like it did in 1815. However, some changes were made later. Beautiful stained-glass windows were added. Also, the old box pews (seats) were replaced in 1872. The pulpit, where the speaker stands, was moved from the middle aisle to where it is now.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1949, St. Paul's church joined with another church called St. Luke's. St. Luke's had always been closely connected to St. Paul's. Their first combined church service was held on July 17, 1949. Later, this building became the main church, or cathedral, for the Diocese of South Carolina. Bishop Gray Temple officially took his seat here in November 1963.
Stained-Glass Windows
The stunning stained-glass windows in the apse (a curved part of the church) were put in during the fall of 1991. They were designed to match the style of Sir Christopher Wren. He was a famous architect from the 1600s who designed St. Paul's Cathedral, London. These windows were made by Willett Studios in Philadelphia. The windows on the left and right show the church's patron saints, St. Luke and St. Paul. The center window shows Jesus on the cross, with St. Mary and St. John.
Music and Leadership
The church is well-known for its great sound quality. Many musicians love to perform there, especially during the Spoleto Festival.
In 2009, the long-time dean, William McKeachie, retired. The church leaders then asked Reverend Peet Dickinson to become the new dean. That same year, the new dean and other church committees worked hard to pay off the money owed for earlier building repairs.
Recent History and Affiliation
The cathedral remained the main church for Bishop Mark Lawrence after the historic diocese split in 2012. Bishop Lawrence's diocese joined the Anglican Church in North America on June 27, 2017. The other part of the old diocese is now called the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Another historic church in Charleston, Grace Church, became its new cathedral in 2015.
