St. Philip's Episcopal Church
St. Philip's is the Mother Church of the Province, and originally stood
on the site where St. Michael's now stands. The second structure
at the present site was completed in 1724 but destroyed by fire in 1835.
The present building was constructed 1835-1838. During the Civil
War its bells were converted into cannon. On July 4, 1976, new bells
were placed in the steeple. St. Philip's was known as the lighthouse church,
a light having been put in the steeple to help guide ships to port.
The federal government actually maintained this light early into this century.
In St. Philip's churchyard are the graves of John C. Calhoun, Secretary
of War and Vice President of the United States; Edward Rutledge, signer
of the Declaration of Independence; Charles Pinckney, signer of the Constitution;
and Dubose Heyward, author of "Porgy." |