Huguenot Church
Encyclopedia
The Huguenot Church, built in 1844 in Charleston, South Carolina
, was the first Gothic Revival church in South Carolina and was designed by architect Edward Brickell White
. It is also known as the French Huguenot Church and was originally affiliated with the Calvinist
Reformed Church of France
, but it is now the only independent Huguenot
church in the United States.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1973. The church is located in the area of Charleston known as the French Quarter, which was given this name in 1973 as part of preservation efforts. It recognizes that the area had a historically high concentration of French merchants.
The Huguenots, who were French Calvinists who faced massive persecution in France, began to settle in other areas in the sixteenth century, founding such failed colonies as Fort Caroline
in Florida
, as well as settling in established areas, such as South Africa, Britain
, and existing colonies such as New Netherlands and Virginia. More than 400,000 Huguenots left France in search of religious freedom. A group of 45 Huguenots arrived in Charleston in 1687, where they constructed the first French Huguenot Church. This church was destroyed, in 1796, due to fire, and a second church was built in 1800. Due to a decline in membership and attendance, the church closed in 1832. It was reopened in 1844 when it was torn down to make way for the current church.
, a local architect who had also constructed a number of Greek and Roman Doric buildings in the area.
According to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, "the Huguenot Church was the first Gothic Revival building built in Charleston... The building is stucco on brick with a single tier of Gothic windows and is three by six bays in proportion. It shows a quantity of pinnacle-topped buttresses, a battlement parapet, and dripstones. Cast-iron crockets are located on the pinnacles over the front windows and front gable. The use of pinnacled buttresses on the front elevation as well as the flanks might lead one to expect an interior with nave and aisles; however, the interior is a single cell with plaster ribbed grained vaulting. Its width in relation to its height gives it an unexpected sense of spaciousness for a building of its size."
This third church also sustained damage, during the Civil War
and the Charleston Earthquake of 1886
. For most of the 20th century, the church was not used for regular religious services. The local community of Huguenot-descended did occasionally open it for weddings, organ recitals, and some occasional services organized by the Huguenot Society of South Carolina. Today's congregation dates from 1983.
and Vallangin, from 1737 and 1772, respectively.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, was the first Gothic Revival church in South Carolina and was designed by architect Edward Brickell White
Edward Brickell White
Edward Brickell White , also known as E. B. White, was an American architect. He was known for his Gothic Revival architecture and his use of Roman and Greek designs.-Life:...
. It is also known as the French Huguenot Church and was originally affiliated with the Calvinist
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
Reformed Church of France
Reformed Church of France
The Reformed Church of France is a denomination in France with Calvinist origins. It is the original and largest Protestant denomination in France....
, but it is now the only independent Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
church in the United States.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1973. The church is located in the area of Charleston known as the French Quarter, which was given this name in 1973 as part of preservation efforts. It recognizes that the area had a historically high concentration of French merchants.
History of the Huguenots in Charleston
Fort Caroline
Fort Caroline was the first French colony in the present-day United States. Established in what is now Jacksonville, Florida, on June 22, 1564, under the leadership of René Goulaine de Laudonnière, it was intended as a refuge for the Huguenots. It lasted one year before being obliterated by the...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, as well as settling in established areas, such as South Africa, Britain
Early Modern Britain
Early modern Britain is the history of the island of Great Britain, roughly corresponding to the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Major historical events in Early Modern British history include the English Renaissance, the English Reformation and Scottish Reformation, the English Civil War, the...
, and existing colonies such as New Netherlands and Virginia. More than 400,000 Huguenots left France in search of religious freedom. A group of 45 Huguenots arrived in Charleston in 1687, where they constructed the first French Huguenot Church. This church was destroyed, in 1796, due to fire, and a second church was built in 1800. Due to a decline in membership and attendance, the church closed in 1832. It was reopened in 1844 when it was torn down to make way for the current church.
Design and construction
The present church was constructed in 1845 by Edward Brickell WhiteEdward Brickell White
Edward Brickell White , also known as E. B. White, was an American architect. He was known for his Gothic Revival architecture and his use of Roman and Greek designs.-Life:...
, a local architect who had also constructed a number of Greek and Roman Doric buildings in the area.
According to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, "the Huguenot Church was the first Gothic Revival building built in Charleston... The building is stucco on brick with a single tier of Gothic windows and is three by six bays in proportion. It shows a quantity of pinnacle-topped buttresses, a battlement parapet, and dripstones. Cast-iron crockets are located on the pinnacles over the front windows and front gable. The use of pinnacled buttresses on the front elevation as well as the flanks might lead one to expect an interior with nave and aisles; however, the interior is a single cell with plaster ribbed grained vaulting. Its width in relation to its height gives it an unexpected sense of spaciousness for a building of its size."
This third church also sustained damage, during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and the Charleston Earthquake of 1886
Charleston earthquake
The Charleston Earthquake of 1886 was a powerful intraplate earthquake that hit the area of Charleston, South Carolina. After the 1811 and 1812 quakes in New Madrid, Missouri, it is one of the most powerful and damaging quakes to hit the southeastern United States. The shaking occurred at 9:50 p.m....
. For most of the 20th century, the church was not used for regular religious services. The local community of Huguenot-descended did occasionally open it for weddings, organ recitals, and some occasional services organized by the Huguenot Society of South Carolina. Today's congregation dates from 1983.
Current use
The church now holds regular services, which are in English, although since 1950, an annual service has been said in French to celebrate the spring. The congregation still teaches Calvinist doctrine, and its liturgical services are derived from those developed by NeufchâtelNeufchâtel
- Place-names :*Neufchâtel-Hardelot, a French commune in Nord-Pas-de-Calais*Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne, a French commune in Picardy*Neufchâtel-en-Bray, a French commune in Normandy where the cheese originates*Neufchâtel, Quebec, a place in Quebec- Others :...
and Vallangin, from 1737 and 1772, respectively.
External links
- Huguenot Church, Charleston County (136 Church St., Charleston), at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
- French Protestant (Huguenot) Church website
- National Park Service description of the church
- Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Powder Magazine listing for the church