It’s a tradition in old cemeteries here to leave small gifts for the children when you pass by.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Leaving Gifts
Tag Archives: Cemetery
Old Receiving Tomb
Very few buildings like this are around now. There is actually another about 1/2 mile down the road. After that maybe Savannah, GA will have one.
This is a temporary tomb to house the deceased until the burial site is ready. Typically a few days. However, one person was here over a year while statues were shipped from Italy.
Chapel Of Ease
There are still the remains of several ‘chapels of ease’ around rural South Carolina. Some are almost gone, this one is in better shape.
The Anglican chapel was constructed in 1740 by planters on Saint Helena Island as a chapel of ease for parishioners who had difficulty traveling to worship at the main parish church in Beaufort, South Carolina. The ruins were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Chapel Of Ease
Chapel Of Ease
Chapel Of Ease
Chapel Of Ease
Chapel Of Ease
Old Iron, Cemetery
Wrought Iron fencing was used extensively in the first cemeteries. Traditionally burials were in graveyards until the mid 1800’s. A growing population and pandemics (yep, nothing new) filled church yards beginning the need for the cemetery.
Gothic and Victorian styles can still be found but time is rusting them away.
Magnolia Umbra Plantation / Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina.
Chapel Graveyard 1740 – 1868
St. Helena Chapel of Ease, Fripp family mausoleum.
Abandoned in 1861, burned in 1868.
Santa Elena – St. Helena
St. Helena Chapel Of Ease on St. Helena island.
Built around 1740 of tabby construction this is one of the few Chapels of Ease the public still has access too. By some miracle there has been no theft or vandalism. A sad but true fact is all the other ruins of chapels are now behind fences.
Members of the Bull family, from Bull plantation, are buried in the nearby graveyard. The church and plantations were abandoned when news came of the invasion of Beaufort and Port Royal by Union troops during the Civil War.
During and immediately after the war the chapel was used to support the freemen (enslaved people suddenly free with no support).
A large forest fire on the island burned the structures and repairs were never done. Until the 1940’s when a bridge was built there was no access to this island other than small boats.
St. Philip’s , Charleston SC
In a town filled with beautiful and famous old churches St. Philips has become the symbol of Charleston.
note; click here to view the interior of this church.
When in town we cannot help but walk by it, or even cut through the cemetery going about our business.
The first church building was completed in 1681. Of course hurricanes, fire, war, and earthquakes made repairs and changes necessary.
The tall steeple (tallest structure in Charleston) served as a light for sailors entering the harbor. It was also used as a target by Union gunners during the Civil War, and a lookout by Confederate gunners at the same time.
The church is the burial place for many US historical figures. Signers of the Constitution, Declaration Of Independence, and members of the original Continental Congress are buried here.
Above the tomb of John C Calhoun sits in the church yard. He was the Vice President of the US, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, just about everything except president… not that he didn’t try.
For many reasons he is among the most infamous politicians in the history of the US.
St. Philip’s , Charleston SCSt. Philip’s, Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina.
Old Church Yard
Taking a short cut through an old cemetery in Charleston.
This graveyard is part of St. Philip’s church one of the oldest and perhaps most iconic.
Best viewed large.
Walking through and reading the familiar names is like a lesson in US history.
This is in the center of town and a nice example of Charleston. Old buildings, churches, and cemeteries right in city center. Not just this spot, most of the town is like this.