Beneath these marbled columns lies a story of resilience. This is Saint Marys Church. It stands as the first Roman Catholic Church in the Carolinas and Georgia.
Saint Marys Church’s story began in 1788. Reverend Matthew Ryan was sent from Ireland to start a parish. In 1789, the congregation acquired a Methodist meeting house for their church. This marked the humble beginnings of Saint Marys.
Reverend Ryan’s time in Charleston was cut short due to illness. Reverend Doctor Thomas Keating replaced him. Keating established the Catholic congregation and christened the parish Saint Marys. Sadly, he also fell ill and died of yellow fever in 1793.
The initial meeting house was too dilapidated. Plans were made to construct a new building for Saint Marys. Construction on a brick sanctuary started in 1801. The first service was held in the new church in 1806.
Disaster struck in the Great Fire of 1838. Saint Marys brick church was destroyed. Undeterred, the congregation laid the cornerstone for the present building that August. On June 9, 1839, the new Classical Revival church opened its doors.
Saint Marys Church survived the Civil War and the earthquake of 1886. It also weathered Hurricane Hugo in 1989. It stands as one of Charleston’s notable structures.
The first trustees of Saint Marys were Irish immigrants. Early members also included French refugees. They fled the 1793 slave insurrection in Santo Domingo. Two daughters of the Marquis de Grasse are interred in the graveyard. He led the voyage from Santo Domingo to Charleston.
In 1820, Pope Pius VII established the Diocese of Charleston. Father John England was named its first Bishop. Inside Saint Marys, you’ll find a painting of the Crucifixion by John S. Cogdell. Masterpiece replicas by Caesare Porta adorn the interior. A Jardine organ, built in 1874, fills the space with music.
The church has undergone several restoration projects. A recent project revealed faux charcoal marbling. It was hidden beneath the white finish of the exterior columns. The columns were restored to reflect this historic detail. Today, the columns are a hallmark of Hasell Street.
Saint Marys Roman Catholic Church is listed in the National Register. It was incorporated in 1791 by the General Assembly of South Carolina. The rectangular structure features four Doric columns. They support a massive entablature. A large central portal is flanked by smaller doors. A semicircular arched window sits above the central door. Smaller circular windows are above the side doors. The church graveyard surrounds the church.
The painting over the altar was originally painted in 1814. It hung in the earlier brick church. John S. Cogdell restored it after the 1838 fire. The paintings on the walls and ceiling are copies of old masters. They were painted in Rome before being installed in 1896.
Saint Mary of the Annunciation is not just a building. It’s a testament to faith, resilience, and community. Its history is etched in every column. It echoes in every hymn. It lives on in the hearts of its parishioners. Saint Marys stands as a beacon of hope in the Holy City.