St. Philip's Church, Charleston, Ghid vizitatori și ce de văzut în apropiere

St. Philip's Church is an Anglican church at 142 Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina, home to a congregation founded in the 1680s. The present building dates from the 1830s, and its tall steeple and historic churchyard make it one of the best-known sights of the old city.

The story behind it

The parish of St. Philip's began in the 1680s, which makes it the oldest congregation in South Carolina, even though the church standing today is not the city's oldest building. It is the third church the parish has built. The second was destroyed by fire in 1835, and the current church was completed in 1838 to replace it.

The churchyard reads like a portrait of colonial and Southern Charleston. Among those buried here is Colonel William Rhett, the militia officer and merchant who in 1718 captured the pirate Stede Bonnet and his crew and brought them back to Charleston for trial. Rhett is remembered as the man who helped end the pirate threat to the harbour. Like many of the wealthy men around him, he was also tied to the slave economy as both trader and owner. The graves of enslaved people who built and sustained the city are, for the most part, unmarked, and that silence is part of the story too.

What to look for

• The tall steeple rises above the surrounding streets, and it is easy to spot from several blocks away.
• The churchyard has inscribed stones that record the titles and achievements of Charleston's governing families, so read a few of the inscriptions closely.
• The grave of Colonel William Rhett is a good place to think about how the city remembers pirates, heroes and merchants.
• Notice how few markers there are for the enslaved people buried nearby compared with the elaborate stones around them.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes to walk the churchyard and look at the church from the outside, longer if you like reading inscriptions.
• Morning light is gentle on the stonework and the streets are quieter before the day's tours begin.
• Check current opening hours before you plan to go inside, as access to the church and grounds can change with services and events.
• The church sits among Charleston's historic streets, so it combines easily with a longer stroll through the downtown area.

See it on a quest

Historic Charleston: Charming Downtown is a good way to see St. Philip's as one stop on a longer walk through the historic centre. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Haunting File: Charleston, Below the Holy City suits anyone drawn to the darker side of the city's past. You reach the church on foot as part of a route through the area, hear about it on the spot and solve a puzzle there. One ticket covers the whole group.

Dorothy’s Quest: The Trials of Oz in Charleston gives the same streets a playful twist with an Oz theme. You walk between places at your own pace, learn about each one as you get there and solve a puzzle along the way. One ticket covers the whole group.