Prince George Winyah Parish Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince George Winyah (Anglican) and Churchyard |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Anglican |
| District | Anglican Diocese of South Carolina |
| Leadership | The Reverend Gary N. Beson |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Corner of Broad and Highmarket Sts., Georgetown, South Carolina |
| State | South Carolina |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | c. 1750 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire(s) | 1 |
| Materials | Brick with stone trim |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | May 06, 1971 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 71000783 |
| Website | |
| http://www.pgwinyah.org/ | |
The Prince George Winyah Parish Church is an old and important Anglican church located in Georgetown, South Carolina. It's one of the oldest churches in South Carolina that has been used continuously since it was built. The church and its yard were added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1971, recognizing their historical importance.
Back in 1716, Anglican parishes like Prince George Winyah were not just church areas. They also served as local government districts in South Carolina. This meant they handled elections and other public duties.
Contents
Starting the Parish: Early History
As more people settled in the South Carolina Lowcountry, there was a need for a new church area. The Prince George Parish was officially created on March 10, 1721. It was named after the Prince of Wales, who later became King George II of Great Britain.
At first, there were two possible places for the church. One was inland on the Black River. The other was in Winyah, near the Sampit River and Winyah Bay, where Georgetown is today. In 1726, a wooden church was built inland, about twelve miles from present-day Georgetown.
On April 9, 1734, the parish was divided to create St. Frederick's Parish. The original wooden church building was given to this new parish.
Building the Prince George Winyah Church
The earliest records for Prince George Winyah Church date back to January 13, 1737. People started collecting money in 1737 to build a new church in Winyah. They also got money from a tax on imports at the port and £1,000 from the colonial government.
Bricks for the new church began to be collected in 1740. Land for the church was given by William Screven, who was the first Baptist minister in Carolina, and his son Elisha Screven. Construction began in the mid-1740s, and the cornerstone was laid on October 30, 1745.
Church Design and Features
The church was built using English red bricks and a special mortar made from local oyster shells. The main part of the church, called the nave, is shaped like a rectangle. It has five sections, with side doors in the middle sections and windows in the others. All the doors and windows have fanlights, which are fan-shaped windows above them.
Brick columns, called pilasters, decorate the sides and corners of the church. The roof over the main worship area is sloped, and the entrance has a special type of gable roof. Inside, the nave has a curved ceiling that looks like a barrel. The seats are old-fashioned wooden box pews. There is a main aisle down the middle and another aisle that crosses it at the side doors. The floor is made of flat stone tiles. The very first church service was held here on August 16, 1747.
Revolutionary War and Changes
During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers took over the church. They burned the inside, and some stories say they even used it as a stable for horses.
Around 1809, a new section called a chancel was added, which is where the altar is. It had a curved back wall and an upper level called a gallery. In 1824, a front entrance with double doors and a tall tower was built. The brick tower had a square base, then an eight-sided section with a small dome and a large cross on top. It also had a clock and a bell tower with a railing. A Mohler organ was installed in 1850.
In 1823, Francis Huger Rutledge became a deacon here. He later became a bishop in Florida. In 1828, Anthony Toomer Porter was baptized at the church. He later founded a famous school in Charleston.
On February 25, 1865, during the American Civil War, the Union Navy took control of Georgetown. However, the church remained open for services.
In 1871, the altar area was updated, and the altar itself was made larger. In 1874, the church received a bell and a clock. A beautiful stained glass window from another chapel was also installed.
In 2012, Prince George Church decided to leave the older Episcopal Church. It then joined the Anglican Church in North America, which has more traditional beliefs.
Churchyard and Notable Graves
The churchyard is surrounded by a brick wall and includes a cemetery. Many people from the church and its leaders are buried here. Some famous South Carolinians are also buried in this cemetery:
- Paul Trapier: A patriot during the American Revolution.
- James H. Trapier: A brigadier general in the Confederate Army.
- Anthony T. Porter: The founder of Porter Military Academy.
- Capt. Roger Shackelford: An early member of the Shackelford family in Georgetown.
- Governor Robert F. W. Allston: A former Governor of South Carolina.
