St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church
93 Hasell St., Charleston, South Carolina
Map
Coordinates:
+32.78184, -79.9327632°46'55" N, 79°55'58" W
Description
St. Mary’s Church is considered the first established Roman Catholic Church in the Carolinas and Georgia. In 1789 trustees for the church purchased the property which it still occupies. In 1791 it was incorporated by the General Assembly of South Carolina as the Roman Catholic Church of Charleston. According to church records, the structure being used for services was soon replaced by a brick structure. This building was destroyed in 1838 in the Charleston fire of that year. Construction of the third and present structure began almost immediately, and the church was opened for worship June 9, 1839. The rectangular structure features four Doric columns that support a massive entablature which is capped with a stepped parapet. The parapet wall was probably added during the renovation program of 1895. A large central portal is flanked by a smaller door on each side. A semicircular arched window is located directly above the central door, with smaller circular windows above the side doors. Both circular and semicircular windows are embellished with keystones. The church graveyard surrounds the church on each side and to the rear. Listed in the National Register November 7, 1976. - SCDAH
National Register information
- Status
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1976
- Reference number
- 76001697
- Architectural styles
- Early Republic; Other architectural type; Roman revival
- Areas of significance
- Architecture; Religion
- Level of significance
- State
- Evaluation criteria
- A - Event; C - Design/Construction
- Property type
- Building
- Historic functions
- Religious structure; Cemetery
- Current functions
- Religious structure; Cemetery
- Period of significance
- 1825-1849
- Significant year
- 1839
- Number of properties
- Contributing buildings: 1
Contributing sites: 1
Update Log
- August 19, 2014: Photo imported by Michael Miller
- July 28, 2014: Updated by Michael Miller: Added "Description" & "Street View"
- July 28, 2014: New Street View added by Michael Miller