St Philip’s Church, Charleston

St Philip's Church, Charleston tickets: which one to buy

Saint Philip's Church stands on Church Street in the historic French Quarter of Charleston, South Carolina, and entry is free, with docents often present on weekdays. It is the oldest congregation in South Carolina, and its tall white steeple, which curves out over the street, is one of the most photographed landmarks in Charleston. Walking and carriage tours of the historic district pass the church together with the Dock Street Theatre, the French Huguenot Church and the Old Powder Magazine, all within a block or two.

The church has two graveyards, one beside the church and one across the street, where notable South Carolinians are buried, including John C. Calhoun, the statesman, and Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The church is an active Anglican congregation, and visits pause during services. The steeple was once lit as a beacon for ships entering the harbour. Parking in the historic district is limited, and the free DASH trolley runs through the area.

Visiting St Philip's Church, Charleston: what to see

The congregation was founded in 1680, when the Church of England was established in the new colony, and the first church was built at the site of Saint Michael's; the congregation moved here in the 1720s. That church burned in 1835, and the present church was built between 1836 and 1838 in a Georgian style with a portico of Tuscan columns, while the steeple, designed by Edward Brickell White, was completed in 1850. The steeple housed a light that guided ships into Charleston harbour, and during the Civil War it was a target for Union guns, which damaged the church; the bells were given to the Confederacy to be melted down for cannons.

Inside, the church is elegant and bright, with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, a gallery, box pews and memorials. The churchyard holds gravestones with carved winged skulls and cherubs from the eighteenth century. The pulpit, lectern and font stand at the front of the nave, and the altar is framed by columns. Memorial tablets on the walls honour colonial governors and Revolutionary War figures. The gallery holds a pipe organ. Tall windows fill the church with light. The west churchyard, across Church Street, was historically reserved for strangers and transients. The steeple's clock and bells ring the hours. The church's name recalls Philip, one of the apostles.

St Philip's Church, Charleston opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open on weekdays, with services on Sundays. Charleston is most pleasant in spring and autumn; summer is hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November. The Spoleto Festival in late May and June brings arts events, and the Festival of Houses and Gardens in spring opens historic homes. The church's steeple is lit at night. Evening ghost tours visit the churchyards. Allow about twenty minutes for the church and graveyards, and walk along Church Street to the Dock Street Theatre and the waterfront. The Old Slave Mart Museum, a short walk away on Chalmers Street, tells the story of the slave trade in Charleston.