St. James Episcopal Church (Santee, South Carolina) facts for kids
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St. James Church, Santee
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St. James Episcopal Church, Santee
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Georgetown, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1768 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000581 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
St. James Church, Santee is a very old and special church. It's also called St. James Episcopal Church, Santee. You can find it hidden deep inside the Francis Marion National Forest in Charleston County, South Carolina, USA.
This church was built way back in 1768. It's an amazing example of Georgian architecture, which was a popular style at the time. Even though it was built in a remote area, it looks very fancy and well-designed. Because of its important design, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The church is located on the west side of Old Georgetown Road. It's a few miles north of South Carolina Highway 46 and the town of McClellanville.
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What Does St. James Church Look Like?
St. James Church is a single-story building made of brick. It has a cool slate roof that slopes down on all sides, called a hip roof. Both the front and back of the church have a special design. They look like the front of an ancient Greek temple, with four round brick columns.
The back part of the church used to be open. But later, the spaces between the columns were filled in with bricks. This area now serves as the church's vestry, which is a room where clergy prepare for services.
Unique Windows and Inside Details
The church has unique round-arched windows. Each window has a "keystone" at the top, which is a wedge-shaped stone. On the eastern wall, there's a special three-part window called a Palladian window. This type of window was very popular in fancy buildings of that time.
Inside the church, you can still see many original parts. This includes the wooden box pews, which are like small enclosed seating areas. The pulpit, where the preacher stands, is also original. All the wooden trim and hardware are from when the church was first built. The pulpit was originally at the north end of the church. But it was moved to the eastern wall sometime in the 1700s.
Why Is This Church Important?
In 1706, the Province of Carolina officially set up the Church of England in the area. This divided what is now South Carolina into six church districts, called parishes. St. James Church was built as a main church for one of these parishes.
This church is one of only a few country churches from the 1700s that are still standing in South Carolina. What makes it extra special is its very detailed and fancy design. It shows the popular building styles that were used in Charleston when the church was built. Because of its amazing architecture and history, St. James Church was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
See also
