St. Michael's Anglican Church (Charleston, South Carolina) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

St. Michael's Anglican Church (formerly St. Michael's Episcopal Church)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. National Historic Landmark District Contributing Property

St. Michael's Anglican Church (formerly St. Michael's Episcopal Church)
Location in South Carolina Show map of South Carolina Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	71 Broad St., Charleston, South Carolina
Built	1751–1761
Built by	Samuel Cardy
Architectural style	Georgian
Part of	Charleston Historic District (ID66000964)
NRHP reference No.	66000704
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	October 9, 1960
Designated NHLDCP	October 9, 1960

St. Michael's Anglican Church is a very old and important church in Charleston, South Carolina. It's the oldest church building still standing in the city! You can find it at the corner of Broad and Meeting streets. This church was built a long time ago, in the 1750s. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

A Look Back: St. Michael's Church History
Church Family: Religious Affiliation
Clock and Bells: Sounds of History
Gallery
See also

A Look Back: St. Michael's Church History

Inside St. Michael's Church

St. Michael's Church was built between 1751 and 1761. It stands where an even older wooden church once was. That first church was built in 1681 but was badly damaged by a hurricane in 1710. A new church, St. Philip's, was then built a few blocks away. The old wooden church was finally taken down in 1727.

Many famous people have visited St. Michael's. In 1791, President George Washington attended a service here. Later, Robert E. Lee, a famous general, also worshipped in the church.

Who Designed This Historic Church?

No one knows for sure who designed St. Michael's Church. However, it looks a lot like St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, England. That church was designed by James Gibbs in the 1720s. Samuel Cardy was the builder who made St. Michael's a reality.

The church walls are made of brick, covered with white plaster. The large entrance area facing Broad Street is called a portico. It was the first of its kind in colonial America. It has strong, simple columns known as Tuscan columns.

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows

Inside the church, you'll find amazing stained glass windows. One window on the north wall was given to the church in 1898. It's a memorial to Mrs. E.A. Simons. This window copies a famous painting called "Easter Morning." It has between 1800 and 2000 pieces of glass and is six by ten feet! It was made by Louis Lederlie for Tiffany Studios. Louis Tiffany himself worked on the church's decorative panels and dome in 1905.

Another beautiful stained glass window is in the chancel, which is the area near the altar. This window shows St. Michael defeating Satan. It's based on a painting by the famous artist Raphael. This window was made in New York and put in place in 1893. The spot where it is now was once a window opening. It was closed up in 1788 to help stop fires from spreading from nearby buildings. But during the American Civil War in 1865, the wall was damaged by shelling, and the old window spot became visible again.

National Recognition

Because of its importance, St. Michael's Church was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. It was also one of the first places added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Right next to the church is St. Michael's Churchyard. This graveyard is the resting place for many important historical figures. These include two people who signed the U.S. Constitution!

Church Family: Religious Affiliation

St. Michael's Church was first part of the Church of England. After the American Revolution, it joined what is now the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Today, St. Michael's is a parish church of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. In 2012, there were some disagreements about church beliefs and rules. Because of this, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina decided to separate from the main Episcopal Church. It then became known as the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. In 2017, the diocese, including St. Michael's, joined the Anglican Church in North America. The church still follows Anglican traditions and ways of worship.

Clock and Bells: Sounds of History

The church tower holds a clock and a set of bells that are very old, dating back to colonial times. The clock strikes the hours and quarter hours. It was made by Aynsworth Thwaites of Thwaites & Reed.

The tower bells are special because they are one of only four sets of "change ringing" bells in the Charleston area. These bells were first made in 1764 by Lester and Pack in London. They were recast (melted down and reshaped) in 1866, also in London. One bell even had to be sent back to London in 1870 to be recast again!

Gallery

The perspective in this full front view taken between 1886 and 1896 is no longer possible because of the construction of the post office across Meeting Street from the church.
The Rector's Kitchen and View of St. Michael's, Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, c. 1910–1915
1919
St. Michael's Church
Graveyard; among those interred is jurist John Rutledge.