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, 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 is the main church, or cathedral, for the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. It was first known as St. Paul's Radcliffeboro.
Contents
Building a Historic Church
Construction of this church began in 1810. The building style was common for that time. The inside of the church was quite simple. It had very little decoration, except for the front area called the chancel. This part was "richly painted" and had special columns with gold tops. Even today, the church looks much like it did in 1815. After a big hurricane in 1989, workers carefully restored the inside. They used the same colors and designs that were there when the church was new.
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 fighting. Union forces often fired cannons at the city. The church's bell was taken down and sent to Columbia. It was melted down to help the Confederate side.
Changes Over Time
Most of the church's inside looks like it did in 1815. However, some beautiful stained-glass windows were added later. Also, the old box pews (rows of seats) were replaced in 1872. The pulpit, where the speaker stands, was also moved to a new spot.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1949, this church joined with another church called St. Luke's. St. Luke's had always been closely connected to St. Paul's. Their first combined service was held on July 17, 1949. Later, this building became the main church, or cathedral, for the Diocese of South Carolina. This happened under the leadership of Rev Dr B Madison Currin. Bishop Gray Temple officially took his seat here in November 1963.
Beautiful Stained-Glass Windows
The stunning stained-glass windows in the front 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 middle window shows Jesus on the cross, with St. Mary and St. John.
A Place for Music
The church is also known for its amazing sound quality. Many musicians and performers love to use it for concerts. This is especially true during the Spoleto Festival, a big arts event in Charleston.
New Leadership and Future
In 2009, the church's long-time leader, Dean William McKeachie, retired. The church then welcomed Reverend Peet Dickinson as the new dean. That same year, the new dean and church leaders worked hard to pay off the money owed for earlier building repairs.
The cathedral remained the main church for Bishop Mark Lawrence after a change in the larger church group in 2012. Bishop Lawrence's diocese joined the Anglican Church in North America on June 27, 2017. Another historic church in Charleston, Grace Church, became the new cathedral for the other group, now called the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.
