St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (St. Stephen, South Carolina) facts for kids
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St. Stephens Episcopal Church
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1978 HABS photo
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 196 Brick Church Circle, St. Stephen, SC |
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| Area | 4.6 acres (1.9 ha) |
| Built | 1767 |
| Architect | Francis Villepontoux; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000570 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is a very old church located in St. Stephen, South Carolina. It was built a long time ago, in the 1760s. This church is special because it's one of the few brick churches from the 1700s still standing in South Carolina. It also has unique designs you won't see on other churches from that time. In 1970, it was named a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important historical place.
Contents
About St. Stephen's Church
Where is the Church Located?
St. Stephen's Church is found on the east side of St. Stephen. It sits on a piece of land about 4.5 acres big. This area includes the church building and a cemetery. The church is surrounded by a road called Brick Church Circle.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church is a single-story building made of brick. It is about 46 feet long and 36 feet wide. The roof is a special type called a gambrel roof. It has curved sections and unique ends.
There are three ways to enter the church. Two doors are on the longer sides, and one is on the shorter western side. The doors and windows are shaped with round arches. They have fan-shaped windows above them. The sides of the church have decorative brick columns called pilasters.
Inside, the church is divided into four main parts by two walkways. The pulpit, where the speaker stands, is at the eastern end. It is in front of a small, fancy window. The ceiling inside is made of decorated metal. After an earthquake in 1886, iron rods were added to the walls. These rods help keep the building strong and stable. The church is built in the Georgian style, which was popular in the 1700s.
How Old is the Church?
The area around St. Stephen's was made a separate church district in 1754. This church building was constructed between 1767 and 1769. It replaced an older church that was made of wood.
St. Stephen's is one of South Carolina's best-kept small brick country churches. Its special features include its unique roof and the decorative columns on the outside. The metal ceiling inside is also very unusual for its time.
The church was designed by Francis Villepontoux. A. Howard helped by providing the bricks. William Axson was the master mason, meaning he was in charge of the brickwork.
Even though there were no regular church services between 1808 and 1932, the building was still cared for. Important repairs were done twice during the 1800s.
Current Use of the Church
St. Stephen's is still an active church today. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. As of August 2025, the Reverend Jeffrey Richardson is the current leader of the church.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Berkeley County, South Carolina
- List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
- St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (disambiguation)
