St. James Church (Goose Creek, South Carolina) facts for kids
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St. James' Church, Goose Creek
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1940 HABS photo
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Goose Creek, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1713–19 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000566 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
St. James' Church, Goose Creek, also known as the Goose Creek Church, is a very old church located in Goose Creek, South Carolina. It was built a long time ago, between 1713 and 1719. This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in South Carolina. It's also one of the few early Georgian-style churches left in the entire country. Because of its history and unique style, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
Contents
About St. James Church
St. James Church sits on a peaceful, tree-filled piece of land. It is a single-story building made of brick, covered with a smooth plaster called stucco. The roof is made of slate and has a special clipped-gable shape. The corners of the building have decorative brickwork. There's also a simple brick line under the roof.
Church Entrances and Windows
The church has three main entrances. Each entrance is in the middle of one side of the building. Next to each entrance are round-arch windows. The main door is on the west side. It has tall, flat columns called pilasters. These columns support a fancy decorated border and a triangle-shaped top.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has three walkways. These walkways separate rows of old-fashioned box pews from the 1700s. At the east end of the church is the pulpit. This is where the preacher stands. It still has its original reading stand and a special sounding board. The wall behind the pulpit is very decorated. It features the seal of George I of Great Britain, who was king at the time. The decorations also include stucco cherubs and a pelican feeding its young.
History of the Church
The Province of Carolina officially started the Church of England in 1706. They divided South Carolina into six church areas called parishes. The Saint James parish church was built by English settlers. Many of these settlers came from Barbados. The church was built between 1713 and 1719. It is one of the oldest Episcopal churches in the United States.
Changes Over Time
The church building has had a few small changes over the years. In 1844, iron rods were added to make the walls stronger. In 1886, a big earthquake damaged the church. The west gable end of the building collapsed during the earthquake.
Churchyard and Burials
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, is now surrounded by a brick wall. Many people are buried here. One famous person buried in the churchyard is Ralph Izard. He was a U.S. senator from South Carolina. He even served as the leader of the Senate for a short time in 1794.
Another notable person whose ashes are buried here is Robert Jordan. He was a famous author. He wrote The Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels. A monument for John Parker (1759–1832) was moved to the churchyard in 1952. It was moved from a nearby estate to keep it safe.
See also
