Southern Living magazine is heaping some praise on the Old Sheldon Church by naming it as one of the South’s Most Beautiful Chapels in a recently published article and list.
A very popular historic attraction among locals and our tourist friends, and one of the most sacred spots in the entire Lowcountry, the ruins of the church attract thousands of visitors each year.
Southern Living spoke of the romantic character of the site and gave a brief history lesson as well.
“Sheldon Church has seen more than its fair share of calamities over the years,” the article said. “Yet, as fate would have it, these terrible misfortunes have inadvertently contributed to the romantic character of the beloved South Carolina landmark.”
“Regarded as one of the first American architectural imitations of a Greek temple, the structure was destroyed two times during its nearly 275-year history,” SL said. “It was burned during the Revolutionary War, then rebuilt, and finally dismantled following damage it suffered during the Civil War,” the article added.
It really is a true magical place and a sight to behold. The original walls and the four columns remain attesting to the solid construction and master craftsmanship which enabled it to withstand its age.
Completed by 1753, history claims the structure was burned by the British in 1779 during the Revolutionary War. In 1826 it was rebuilt and legend again says it was later burnt by William Tecumseh Sherman who burned practically all the residences of neighboring plantations following the evacuation of Pocataligo by the Confederates on January 14, 1865. Other accounts said Sherman never touched the church, that it was locals who looted the church to use to help rebuild their own homes.
Whatever the accurate story actually is, the ruins today are surrounded by old majestic, Spanish moss filled Oaks and grave sites are scattered throughout the grounds.
“The grandeur and artistry that once made this special Southern place an imposing house of worship are still evocative, and you can truly feel how the church used to be many years ago,” Southern Living said.
Perhaps the most photographed of all of the many local Beaufort historic places, the site was listed in the National Historic Register on October 22nd, 1970.
See the full Southern Living article here.
Learn more about the Old Sheldon Church
