The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-12-15
For THE HERALD.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S. c.,
December 6. 1873.

EDITOR NEwBERRf HERALD:
On Sunday, 2Sth ultimo, Bishop Howe
made a visitation to this Parish, and
held service in the old Colonial Brick
Church, six miles from the village,
which WAS consecratcd last year near
Christmas. after the repairs and reno
vation it had undergone, This was
one Of the old historic churches, having
originally been built in 1905. Many Of
the residents Of the village attended.
and in the evening the Bishop preached
at the church in this village, giving as
is always the case with him, a most
interesting and instructive sermon.
In this connection, the idea occurred
to me that an occasional sketch Of some
ofthe churches and other old and historic
structures in and around old Charleston
would not be unacceptable to the nu-
me1ous readers of your valuable paper.
I take the liberty to do so.
ST. PHILIPS (EPIsCopAD CHURCH.
The original St. Philips Church was
a wooden structure on the site of the
present St. Michael's-S. F. corner
Meeting and Broad streets-the first
minister of the Episcopal Church was
Rev. Atkin Williamson; when ne came
to Charleston does not appear. but he
was there in 1880. The Rev. Samuel
Marshall was the next. and was ap-
pointed in 1896. The "Act of Assem-
bl7" appropriated a salary Of ESQ per
annum, and directed that negro man
and woman, and four COWS and calves
be purchased for his use. and paid for
out of the Public Treasury" He died
in 1899 of malignant disease. probably
yellow fever, which swept off many of
the principal inhabitants of the Town.
The Rector next appointed was Rev. Ed
ward Marston, who arrived in 100. In
that year was computed that there were
in the Province $500 persons. besides
negroes and Indians. The Rev. Richard
Marsden succeeded to the Rectorate in
1905, where he continued until the ~
rival of Commissary johnson fn 1907.
On the SOth November, 1706, the wor-
ship of the Church of England was
established by law. The London $50
ciety for the propagation Of the Gospel
in Foreign Parts furnished most of the
Missionaries Of the Gross and built al
most entirely all Of the old Colonial
Parish Churches of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church, most of which were
erected about 1706-S-9, and were built
substantially of brick.
The old wooden building of St.
Philips Con the present site of St.
Michael's) was taken down in l727,
when the (then new St. Philips was
commenced in Church street near
Queen, but not completed until 1888.
The nave was "a feet long, the belfry
81, the portico 10 feet and % 1-2 feet
wide, the building 81 feet wide. In the
interior, two rows of Tuscan pillars sup
ported five arches on each side and the
galleries-the galleries were added sub
scquently to the building of the church.
There was no chancel. The east end
was a panelled wainscot, with Corin-
THAN pillasters supporting the cornice of
fan-light, and Il vane in the form of a
cock surmounted the steepie, which was
about 30 feet high.
This venerable pile succumbed to the
great fire Of February, 1885, and the
present beautiful structure was erected
on its ruins, but receded few feet to
allow the widening Of the street. The
new edifice was opened for divine SER
vice about the spring of 1888. The
general style of the architecture of the
old church is preserved in the new one,
except that the Tuscan pillars which
supported the arches in the former
have had Corinthian columns substituted
in their place. Rev. G. T. Gadsden
was ordained in 1907 and elected assist
ant minister in 1909, subsequently he
was called to the Rectorship, in which
position he continued after his election
as Bishop of the Diocese, and until bis
death, which occurred in 1851. =.
THE CIRCULAR OR CoNGHEGAT1ONAL1s
CHURCH.
The original building on this site was
of wood. and known as the "White
Meeting," probably the origin of the
name Of Meeting street, on the east
side of which it stood. This was sue
ceeded in 1904 by the brick edi6ce of the
form which gave the name to the church
this rotunda was SO feet in diameter
and crowned by dome. The front of
the building was formed by Tow of
six columns extending to the outer edge
of the pavement. The "great fire" of
1861 destroyed it, and the ruins still
occupy the site, small building having
been erected to the south of the ruins
for the purpose Of holding religious
services. Rev. W. II. Adams is the
esteemed pastor of this congregation.
THE BAPTIST CHURCHES.
The first building erected by this de-
nomination is that now used us the
"Seamen's Bethel" on the cast side of
Church near Water street, and from the
flagstaff above the apex ofits roof waves
the Bethel Flag, and from the boat
shaped pulpit the glad tidings of the
Gospel is promulgated by that eloquent
and veteran advocate of the cause Of the
seamen-Rev. w. B. Yates. A short
distance beyond. on the west side of the
street, the imposing and chaste build
inc known as the First Baptist Church |
was erected, in lieu Of the one just
mentioned, for the use of the conere-
CATION, and one of the earliest pastors
who officiated there was that venerated
aid universally esteemed physician and
servant of God, the Rev. Richard Fur
man. He was succeeded by Rev. Basil |
Manly, that gentle and pure-minded
Christian minister. On his removal to
Alabama, the Rev. DR.. Brantly, the
learned and able President of the Col
lege of Charleston, was called as the
pastor. During his pastorate the Went
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