
St. Simon’s Episcopal Church-Peak, South Carolina

Built in 1738, the St. George’s Church is the oldest extant church on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Federal Troops used it as a horse stable and caused great damage. It was rebuilt after the Civil War. Some of the original brickwork is still in place. The church is used sporadically, along with its cemetery.
Notice the checkered pattern. This is an early American example of the Flemish bond. You can read more about it and why the brick appears white in some photos on this website.
It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior is one house of worship for The Episcopal Church of the Ridge congregation. The two other churches are the Grace Episcopal Church in Ridge Spring, SC, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Edgefield, SC. The churches rotate church services.
This building is the “newest” of the three churches since it was built in the 1880s. The first church building is no longer standing, but the current sanctuary was consecrated on June 30, 1882, by Bishop William B. W. Howe. The bell tower was added at a later time.
Built in 1896, St. Bartholomew’s Church is the longest continuing Black Episcopal congregation in the state. The school, now the parish hall, was built in 1897.
The Victorian elements of the church make it a standout in rural church architecture. It was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The church is still active with services offered twice a month. They are held in the afternoon, which is a long-standing tradition of the church.
Berkeley County
The parish of St. Thomas Church was founded 1706. This structure was built in 1819 after the original building burned. For more info and interior photos, visit the South Carolina Picture Project.
Prince Frederick’s Chapel is an Episcopal church serving nearby rice plantations. The Gothic Revival church was designed by architect Louis J. Barbot, who designed several buildings in Charleston, and later served as the city’s engineer.
The cornerstone of this church was laid in 1859 after the first church was replaced. With a break caused by the Civil War, the church was not completed until 1876. With the end of slavery, many rice plantations were no longer profitable, so people began to move away, which diminished the congregation’s size. Newspapers reported by the 1930s that the church was only being used for special holiday services. By the 1940s, the church was no longer holding services.
Due to it’s instability, it was determined to take down the three walls of the church and fortify the front facade. It was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.