Strawberry Chapel and Childsbury Town Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Strawberry Chapel
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Strawberry Chapel
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Berkeley County, South Carolina |
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| Nearest city | Goose Creek / Moncks Corner |
| Built | 1707 (Childsbury) 1725 (Chapel) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001194 |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1972 |
Strawberry Chapel is a very old church building in Berkeley County, South Carolina. It was built way back in 1725! This special chapel is located near the West Branch of the Cooper River.
Right next to the chapel's land is a historic site called the “Town of Childsbury.” This was a planned town started in 1707, but it doesn't exist anymore. Both Strawberry Chapel and the old town site were added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1972.
It's important to know that Strawberry Chapel, its graveyard, and the surrounding land are private property. They are usually only open to the public for special events and church services held once a year.
Contents
Discovering Strawberry Chapel's Past
How Strawberry Chapel Began
A man named James Child, who came from England, was given a large piece of land. It was about 1,200 acres (486 hectares) on a spot called Strawberry Bluff. This bluff overlooked the Cooper River. It was a great location because it was as far upstream as ships could travel. James Child even started a ferry service across the river there.
The Story of Childsbury Town
James Child planned to build a town on Strawberry Bluff. This town, called Childsbury, once had many things. It had a tavern (like an inn), a school, a chapel, a race track, and a general store. People like tanners, butchers, shoemakers, and carpenters lived and worked there.
However, as big farms called plantations grew nearby, the town of Childsbury slowly became less important. By 1750, only the chapel and the tavern were still regularly used. Fairs were held there until the mid-1750s, but eventually, the town disappeared. Today, the area where the town once stood is a South Carolina Heritage Preserve. This means it's protected for its historical importance.
What is a Chapel of Ease?
Strawberry Chapel was known as a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church built to make it easier for people to attend services. It served people who lived too far from the main church of the St. John's, Berkeley Parish. The main church at that time was Biggin Church, which was about 10 miles (16 km) away.
Being a "parochial" chapel meant it had special permission. It could perform important church duties like baptizing babies and burying the dead. Over time, Strawberry Chapel became even more important. By 1825, it took over from Biggin Church as the main church for the parish.
The Design of Childsbury Town
The town of Childsbury was carefully planned out. It was going to have 24 blocks on Strawberry Bluff. In the very middle of the town was a market square. There were also two other squares named Child's Square and Dixe's Square. The streets were quite wide, about 66 feet (20 meters) across.
Areas were set aside for important buildings. These included a college, a free school, a church, and a house for the minister. James Child also planned for 600 acres (243 hectares) to be used for farms and pastures. He even set aside 100 acres (40 hectares) on the bluff for a future fort, or "citadel." There's even a drawing of this town plan that has been shared!
Strawberry Chapel's Look
Strawberry Chapel is a simple, rectangular building made of brick. The bricks are covered with a smooth layer of stucco. It has a special kind of roof called a "jerkin-head roof," which is partly sloped on all sides.
The front of the chapel faces south. It has a double door with three panels on each side. Above the door, there's a decorative, curved window called a "fanlight." On either side of this main door, there are windows with shutters.
The west side of the chapel has a single door with two windows next to it. Above these, there's a round, decorative window called a "rosette window." The east side has two windows with another rosette window above them. On the north side, a small room sticks out. This room is called the "vestry" and is used by the church leaders.
Inside the chapel, there's a special stone tablet. It remembers an early church leader who used to work at Biggin Church. This tablet was moved to Strawberry Chapel. Also, the silver cups and plates used for Communion services at Biggin Church were once hidden during the American Civil War. They were found buried in a barn in 1947! These special items are not used at Strawberry Chapel today. Instead, they are on display at the Charleston Museum.
Caring for Strawberry Chapel
People who are descendants of the Ball, Harleston, Waring, and Stoney families are actively working to protect Strawberry Chapel. They want to make sure this historic 1725 building and its graves are preserved. A big restoration project is planned to be finished by 2025. This is because 2025 will be the chapel's 300th anniversary! Work started in 2018 to fix water problems in the chapel's walls.
Four Communion services are held at the chapel each year, and visitors are welcome to attend these. Remember, the chapel and its burial grounds are on private land and are not open to the public at other times.
Even though the chapel and the old Childsbury Township land share a border, they are completely separate. The historic Childsbury Township property is owned by the State of South Carolina and is open to the public. It is not part of Strawberry Chapel's private property.
