Old Sheldon Church Ruins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Sheldon Church Ruins
|
|
,_Sheldon_vicinity_(Beaufort_County,_South_Carolina).jpg)
The beautiful ruins of Sheldon Church.
|
|
 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Yemassee, South Carolina |
| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| Built | 1753 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000562 |
| Added to NRHP | October 22, 1970 |
The Old Sheldon Church Ruins are the beautiful remains of a historic church in Beaufort County, South Carolina. This special place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it is protected as an important part of American history. The ruins are located about 17 miles north of the city of Beaufort.
The Story of the Church
The church was not always called Sheldon Church. When it was first built, it was known as Prince William's Parish Church. Construction started in 1745 and finished around 1753. It was designed in a fancy style called English Georgian, which was popular in Great Britain at the time.
A Mystery of Destruction
For a long time, people believed the church was destroyed twice by fire. The first story is that British soldiers burned it down in 1779 during the American Revolutionary War. It was then said to have been rebuilt in 1826.
The story continues that during the Civil War, in 1865, the church was burned a second time by the Union Army led by General William T. Sherman. A report from that time said:
"All that was combustible was consumed ..., its massive walls survive the last as they did the former conflagration... Exactly as it happened a hundred years before in 1779, when General Prevost... burned the Church, so now in February 1865, General Sherman... burned it a second time."
However, a different story came out later. A letter from 1866 written by a man named Milton Leverett suggests the church was not burned down by Sherman's army. He wrote, "Sheldon Church not burn't. Just torn up in the inside, but can be repaired." This could mean that people took materials like wood and bricks from inside the church to rebuild their own homes that had been burned in the war. So, the real reason for the church's ruin is still a bit of a mystery!
The Ruins Today
Today, the church's strong brick walls stand among large, old oak trees and old gravestones. It is a peaceful and popular place for photographers because of its spooky beauty.
Inside the ruins, you can find the grave of Governor William Bull. He was an important person who helped plan the city of Savannah, Georgia, in the 1730s.
While the site was once a popular spot for weddings, this has not been allowed since 2015 to help protect the delicate ruins. However, a special tradition continues. Every year since 1925, a church service is held here on the second Sunday after Easter.
External links
- Sheldon Church Ruins - Beaufort County, S.C.
- Discover South Carolina
- Old Sheldon Church
