St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (Charleston, South Carolina)

St. Mary of the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church
Basic information
Location 93 Hasell St.
Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
Geographic coordinates 32° 46' 54.6" N 79° 55' 58" W
Affiliation Roman Catholic
District Diocese of Charleston
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Parish
Leadership Rev. Father Jeremi Wodecki, Administrator "pro-tem"
Website
Architectural description
Architectural style Roman
Completed 1839
Specifications
Capacity 350
Length 84 ft (25.6 m)
Width 50 ft (15.2 m)
Materials Stucco over brick
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Added to NRHP November 7, 1976
NRHP Reference no. 76001697[1]

St. Mary of the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church is the first Roman Catholic parish in the Carolinas and Georgia. The current building at 93 Hasell St. in Charleston, South Carolina, is the third structure to house the congregation on this site.

The property and an old building were purchased in 1789. It was incorporated as the Roman Catholic Church of Charleston by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1791. The first structure was replaced by a brick church that burned in the Charleston fire in 1838.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is one of the many beautiful paintings that adorn the church.

The church was rebuilt quickly and reopened on June 9, 1839. It is a rectangular building, 84 ft (25.6 m) by 50 ft (15.2 m). It is built of brick with a stucco covering. There are four Doric columns that support a large entablature. The parapet wall at the top of the church was probably constructed around 1896. There are stained glass windows imported from Munich.

The nave has a central aisle and two large rows of pews. There are smaller pews along the side aisles. Above the altar, there is a painting of the Crucifixion by John S. Cogdell. The artist donated this painting to replace an earlier painting he had done in 1814, which was destroyed in the fire. Much of the interior of the church was renovated during a three month renovation in 1884.[2]

The church graveyard is on each side and to the rear of the church.

In the early 1980s, the neighboring Charleston Place complex was constructed, bordering the church on all sides. It was the only structure preserved on the lot, besides the few storefronts facing Meeting Street which were incorporated in the parking structure.

The St. Mary's Church is on the National Register of Historic Places, No. 76001697. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information.[3] and copies of the nomination forms.[4] There are additional pictures and information available from the Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress.[5]

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Sunday in the City". Charleston News & Courier. October 6, 1884. p. 8. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Charleston County (93 Hasell St., Charleston)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  4. ↑ McNutly, Katharine N.; Julian V. Brant, Jr. (April 2, 1976). "Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. Retrieved 23 June 2012. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthor= (help)
  5. ↑ Prints and Photographs Online Catalog – Search for "St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church."
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Coordinates: 32°46′54.6″N 79°55′58″W / 32.781833°N 79.93278°W / 32.781833; -79.93278

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