St. James the Greater Catholic Mission facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. James the Greater Catholic Mission
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3087 Ritter Rd., south of Walterboro, South Carolina |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1833 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000676 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 2015 |
The St. James the Greater Catholic Mission is a special church in Colleton County, South Carolina. It's a Catholic church that has served an African-American community for a very long time. People have gathered here since 1833. This place is unique because its buildings and grounds are still mostly the same as they were long ago.
The mission was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This means it's an important historical site in the United States.
A Long History of Faith
This church community started in 1833. Bishop John England helped create the parish. This happened after some local plantation owners and the people they enslaved became Catholic.
In 1856, the church building sadly burned down. After the American Civil War, the enslaved people were freed. Many of them stayed in the area. They kept their Catholic faith, even without a church building or a priest.
One very dedicated man, Vincent de Paul Davis, was a leader in the community. He taught people about the Catholic faith. He also became the godfather for many children who were baptized in nearby churches.
In 1892, a priest named Father Daniel Berberich, from the Pallottine order, found this community. He began to hold Mass for them. He also helped them build a new church in 1894. Soon after, a school was added for the children. The church building you see today was built in 1935.
The Mission Buildings
The St. James the Greater Catholic Mission has several important buildings. The main church building was built in 1935. It has a special design called Gothic Revival, with a shingled roof.
There is also a small school building on the property. This school dates back to 1901. The mission also has a cemetery. Some of the burials in this cemetery are from as early as 1835.
Featured in a Documentary
The story of the St. James the Greater Catholic Church and its community was made into a documentary film. The film is called "We Came A Long Way By Faith: Catholic Hill and St. James the Greater Catholic Church". It was released in 2020.
See also
