St. Philip's Church Ruins
Encyclopedia
The St. Philip's Church Ruins are the remains of a colonial Anglican
church building in Brunswick Town
, North Carolina
, United States
. The church is located beside the Cape Fear River
in the Brunswick Town Historic District
, along with Fort Anderson
, Russelborough and the nearby Orton Plantation
. Construction of St. Philip's Church lasted 14 years, but took only one day to be destroyed when the British Army
burned Brunswick Town. Before its demise, the building was considered one of the finest religious structures in the Province of North Carolina
. On February 26, 1970, the St. Philip's Church Ruins was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
was created in Brunswick Town with James Moir as the first vicar
. It was the sister church of St. James Episcopal Church
. Construction of St. Philip's Church began in 1754, but was not completed until 1768. The first minister to lead the new church was John Barnett and colonial governor Arthur Dobbs
designated St. Philip's as "His Majesty’s Chapel in North Carolina." Barnett was succeeded by J. Cramp and Nicholas Christian. During the American Revolutionary War
, the British Army attacked Brunswick Town and burned St. Philip's Church, Russelborough, and most of the homes and businesses. The church walls were the only parts of the structure not to be destroyed. Brunswick Town was deserted and the church remains were relatively untouched for almost a century.
In March 1862, Confederate Army engineers began to survey the remains of Brunswick Town and St. Philip's Church. The Confederates built earthworks
and trenches in the town, covering the remains of several burnt structures except for the church. The fort was constructed to protect the city of Wilmington 18 miles (29 km) upstream, a vital port during the Civil War
. The bastion was named Fort St. Philip, but renamed Fort Anderson in July 1863. During the attack on Fort Anderson in February 1865, cannon balls shot from Union ships in the Cape Fear River hit the walls of St. Philip's Church and are still evident today. When the Confederate forces were defeated, Union soldiers desecrated several graves at St. Philip's Church and removed the building's cornerstone
. Confederate bodies were placed inside the church.
In 1899, the newly formed Cape Fear Chapter of the North Carolina Society of The Colonial Dames of America
visited the St. Philip's Church Ruins to pay homage to Revolutionary War casualties in Brunswick Town. In 1902, the chapter erected a marble plaque inside St. Philip's to commemorate Brunswick Town co-founder, Maurice Moore. Excavations at Brunswick Town began in 1958 and items such as bullets, buttons, and a cannon ball were retrieved from inside the St. Philip's Church ruins. The church is now part of the Brunswick Town State historic site. Visitors may walk through the church and tour the earthworks of nearby Fort Anderson.
The St. Philip's Church Ruins consists of four brick walls, as well as graves located inside and outside of the church. The bricks used for construction were imported from England
and the walls measure three feet (0.91 m) thick. The building is 76 feet six inches (23.3 m) long, 53 feet three inches (16.2 m) wide, and 24 feet four inches (7.4 m) high. The floor and roof were destroyed in the fire, as well as the three doors and eleven windows that measured fifteen by seven feet (4.6 m x 2.1 m). The church floor was made of wood, except for the aisles which featured one foot (0.3 m) square brick tiles that formed the shape of a cross. The pews
were wooden and the Governor's pew was raised above the others. Twelve burial sites are located inside the church and there are several graves remaining outside of the structure that were not desecrated by Union troops. Notable people buried at St. Philip's Church include Arthur Dobbs, Governor Benjamin Smith, and Supreme Court Associate Justice
Alfred Moore
.
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
church building in Brunswick Town
Brunswick Town, North Carolina
Brunswick Town is a colonial ghost town located beside the Cape Fear River in Smithville Township, Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. Brunswick Town was the first settlement in the Cape Fear region, a major North Carolina port in the 18th century, and home to three colonial governors...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The church is located beside the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
in the Brunswick Town Historic District
Brunswick Town Historic District
The Brunswick Town Historic District encompasses the ruins of colonial Brunswick Town, North Carolina, the Civil War-era Fort Anderson, St. Philip's Church Ruins, and the remains of Russellborough, the home of two colonial governors. The district is located in the Smithville Township of Brunswick...
, along with Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson (North Carolina)
Fort Anderson was an early fort in the lower Cape Fear Region of North Carolina, at Brunswick Town in Brunswick County. It was used as a Confederate Fort during the American Civil War. The fort was pivotal in protecting the Cape Fear River inlets and Wilmington upstream. Earthen batteries...
, Russelborough and the nearby Orton Plantation
Orton Plantation
The Orton Plantation is a historic Southern plantation in the Smithville Township of Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. Located beside the Cape Fear River between Wilmington and Southport, Orton Plantation is considered to be a near-perfect example of Southern antebellum architecture...
. Construction of St. Philip's Church lasted 14 years, but took only one day to be destroyed when the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
burned Brunswick Town. Before its demise, the building was considered one of the finest religious structures in the Province of North Carolina
Province of North Carolina
The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina in British America, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietor. The province later became the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee....
. On February 26, 1970, the St. Philip's Church Ruins was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
In 1741, the St. Philip's ParishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
was created in Brunswick Town with James Moir as the first vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
. It was the sister church of St. James Episcopal Church
St. James Episcopal Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)
St. James Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church in the historic district of Wilmington, North Carolina. The church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and is the oldest church in the city of Wilmington.- History :...
. Construction of St. Philip's Church began in 1754, but was not completed until 1768. The first minister to lead the new church was John Barnett and colonial governor Arthur Dobbs
Arthur Dobbs
Arthur Dobbs was a wealthy landowner in North Carolina and served as colonial governor from 1754 to 1765.-Early life and career:...
designated St. Philip's as "His Majesty’s Chapel in North Carolina." Barnett was succeeded by J. Cramp and Nicholas Christian. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, the British Army attacked Brunswick Town and burned St. Philip's Church, Russelborough, and most of the homes and businesses. The church walls were the only parts of the structure not to be destroyed. Brunswick Town was deserted and the church remains were relatively untouched for almost a century.
In March 1862, Confederate Army engineers began to survey the remains of Brunswick Town and St. Philip's Church. The Confederates built earthworks
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
and trenches in the town, covering the remains of several burnt structures except for the church. The fort was constructed to protect the city of Wilmington 18 miles (29 km) upstream, a vital port 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...
. The bastion was named Fort St. Philip, but renamed Fort Anderson in July 1863. During the attack on Fort Anderson in February 1865, cannon balls shot from Union ships in the Cape Fear River hit the walls of St. Philip's Church and are still evident today. When the Confederate forces were defeated, Union soldiers desecrated several graves at St. Philip's Church and removed the building's cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
. Confederate bodies were placed inside the church.
In 1899, the newly formed Cape Fear Chapter of the North Carolina Society of The Colonial Dames of America
The Colonial Dames of America
The Colonial Dames of America is an American organization composed of women who are descended from an ancestor who lived in British-America from 1607–1775, and was of service to the colonies by either holding public office, being in the military, or serving the Colonies in some other "eligible"...
visited the St. Philip's Church Ruins to pay homage to Revolutionary War casualties in Brunswick Town. In 1902, the chapter erected a marble plaque inside St. Philip's to commemorate Brunswick Town co-founder, Maurice Moore. Excavations at Brunswick Town began in 1958 and items such as bullets, buttons, and a cannon ball were retrieved from inside the St. Philip's Church ruins. The church is now part of the Brunswick Town State historic site. Visitors may walk through the church and tour the earthworks of nearby Fort Anderson.
Architecture
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the walls measure three feet (0.91 m) thick. The building is 76 feet six inches (23.3 m) long, 53 feet three inches (16.2 m) wide, and 24 feet four inches (7.4 m) high. The floor and roof were destroyed in the fire, as well as the three doors and eleven windows that measured fifteen by seven feet (4.6 m x 2.1 m). The church floor was made of wood, except for the aisles which featured one foot (0.3 m) square brick tiles that formed the shape of a cross. The pews
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
were wooden and the Governor's pew was raised above the others. Twelve burial sites are located inside the church and there are several graves remaining outside of the structure that were not desecrated by Union troops. Notable people buried at St. Philip's Church include Arthur Dobbs, Governor Benjamin Smith, and Supreme Court Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
Alfred Moore
Alfred Moore
Alfred Moore was a distinguished North Carolina judge who became a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Moore Square, a park located in the Moore Square Historic District in Raleigh, North Carolina was named in his honor. Moore was buried at the St...
.
See also
- History of North CarolinaHistory of North CarolinaThe history of North Carolina from prehistory to the present covers the experiences of the people who have lived in the territory that now comprises the U.S. state of North Carolina....
- National Register of Historic Places listings in North Carolina