St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Charleston, South Carolina)

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina was the first Episcopal church in the United States at which pews were offered to attendants at no cost; other Episcopal churches either sold or leased pews to members to fund the churches.[1]

St. Stephen's is at 67 Anson Street in Charleston, South Carolina.

History

The current St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is the second location for the congregation. The construction of the first church was funded by donations and was intended to be a free church "for the general benefit of those who may not have it in their power to provide themselves with seats in other Churches."[2] The cornerstone of the first St. Stephen's was laid on September 30, 1823, on Guignard Street near Maiden Lane.[3] (Guignard Street ran all the way from East Bay Street to Meeting Street, and Maiden Lane extended a block further to the south than it does today.) The Right Rev. Nathaniel Bowen presided at the ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of what would be a brick building of 36' by 50'.[4]

An open letter ran in 1834 about the inadequate size of the chapel on Guignard Street.[5]

On June 5, 1835, a fire destroyed several city blocks bounded by Market Street (to the south), Meeting Street (west), Hasell Street (north), and Maiden Lane and Anson Street (east).[6] The church was purposefully destroyed to create a firebreak during the fire.[7]

The cornerstone for the current church was laid on December 26, 1835, on Anson Street in Ansonborough.[8]

References
  1. "Parish Profile" (PDF). Charleston, South Carolina: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. November 2016. p. 10.
  2. Charleston Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. October 1, 1823. p. 2. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "St. Stephen's Church". Charleston Gazette. Charleston, South Carolina. October 1, 1823. p. 2.
  4. "St. Stephen's Church". Southern Patriot. Charleston, South Carolina. October 1, 1823. p. 2.
  5. "Messrs. Editors". Charleston Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. April 2, 1834. p. 2.
  6. "Great and Calamitous Fire". Charleston Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. June 8, 1835. p. 2.
  7. "Extensive and Destructive Fire". Southern Patriot. Charleston, South Carolina. June 6, 1835. p. 2.
  8. Charleston Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. December 25, 1835. p. 3. Missing or empty |title= (help)

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