Church of the Cross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Church of the Cross
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 110 Calhoun St., Bluffton, South Carolina |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | White, Edward Brickell |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001686 |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1975 |
The Church of the Cross is a historic and beautiful church. You can find it on Calhoun Street in Bluffton, South Carolina.
This church was built a long time ago, in 1857. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's a special building that is important to American history. Today, it is part of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. It is also part of a bigger campus that serves the community.
Contents
History of the Church of the Cross
How It All Started: 1767–1857
People started worshipping in the Bluffton area way back in 1767. A church was built near Pritchardville in 1787. Services on "The Bluff" of the May River began in the early 1830s.
Bluffton was a popular summer spot for families. It was also a stop for ferries traveling between Savannah and Beaufort. By 1842, a small chapel was built near where the Church of the Cross stands today.
Building the Church: 1857–1861
The church building you see now was finished in July 1857. An architect named E. B. White designed it. People at the time called it a "handsome cruciform Gothic building." "Cruciform" means it's shaped like a cross.
The church has unique windows. They are topped with fanned arches that look like palmetto trees. The windows have special rose-colored glass that came all the way from England. Inside, the walls have a soft pink color. This makes the light feel warm and inviting. The strong pine timbers you can see inside show how solid the building is.
During the Civil War: 1861–1865
In 1863, soldiers marched into Bluffton. They burned most of the town. Luckily, the Church of the Cross was saved. However, the people who went to the church had to leave.
Services at the church started again in 1870. Reverend E. E. Bellinger arrived and helped fix up the building.
After the War: 1865–1975
In 1892, the church got a new roof. But a very strong hurricane in 1898 damaged the roof and the rest of the building. By February 1900, everything was repaired.
Workers also changed the chancel area. This is the part of the church near the altar. They used parts of the old pulpit and desk to make a new walnut altar with a stone top. They also made a new pulpit and a prayer desk. A small chapel area was made in the Narthex. This part was easy to heat for the few people who came to church in the winter.
Growing Stronger: 1975–Present
The Church of the Cross has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. The church started to grow quickly. In 1986, members built the first rectory, which is a home for the church's leader. By 2001, this building became the church's main office.
In 1997, the Narthex wall was moved back to its original spot. This made more room for people to sit in the main part of the church. Stairs now lead up to a renovated balcony. This is where the choir sings and where an English pipe organ was installed in 1999.
Over the past two decades, the church has grown a lot. The number of members has increased twenty times! More than seventy groups led by church members now help the church and the community.
Members of the church also started Cross Schools Inc. It opened in 1998 with seven first graders. Land was bought for a school campus in 2000. The school kept growing, adding a new grade each year. They used rented spaces until their first building was finished in 2005. Today, Cross Schools has over 600 students. They range from toddlers to eleventh graders. The first senior class will be added in the fall of 2023.
A traditional chapel was built on the Cross Schools Campus in February 2020. The church offices are now located there. Students have weekly chapel services there, and a traditional weekend service is also held. In December 2021, a new three-story building was finished. This building is for athletics and the high school.
The school is an important part of the church's history. The church and school work together. The church uses space on the school campus for some of its Sunday morning worship services.
Worship Services
The worship services at the Church of the Cross follow the traditions of the Anglican Church. They combine parts of the Book of Common Prayer with more modern worship styles. Six services are held each week at two different locations:
- Saturday, 5:28pm – Gracetime: A relaxed Eucharist Service
- Sunday, 8:00am – Traditional Holy Eucharist
- Sunday, 9:00am - Blended Holy Eucharist (held at The Chapel on the Cross Schools Campus, 491 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton)
- Sunday, 10:30am – CrossPoint: Modern/Contemporary (held at Cross Schools Campus Gym, 495 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton)
- Sunday, 10:00am – Blended Holy Eucharist
