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Stroll through history on these hallowed grounds.

The historic churches of downtown Beaufort are steeped in cultural history and refinement. Each structure tells its own story in the life of this important city.  Situated between Savannah and Charleston, this beautiful city by the sea retains much of its antebellum charm. The churches were used as stables during the Revolutionary War and hospitals during the Civil War. Others were used as schools for Freemen before, during, and after Reconstruction. Spending a day visiting these Beaufort landmarks is soothing to the soul.

The Parish Church of St Helena – 505 Church Street

The Parish Church of St. Helena was founded in 1712, and built in 1724. It was rebuilt in 1769 and extended to the west in 1817. All but the westward extension was demolished in 1842 and new wings were added which would accommodate a larger congregation. The church was used by the British to stable horses during the Revolutionary War.

Union troops repurposed the church as a hospital during the Civil War uprooting headstone slabs to serve as operating tables. Union sailors stationed in Beaufort donated an alter for the church sanctuary after the war.

The church graveyard is full of interesting and well-known Beaufortonians, including Colonel John Barnwell. He was famously known as “Tuscarora Jack”. Colonel Barnwell gained fame when he made an alliance with the Yemassee Indians and defeated the Tuscarora Indians of North Carolina, then forged a peace treaty. He died in 1724 and because of expansion, is buried under the church.

Two British officers killed during the Revolutionary War are buried in the graveyard. American Patriot Captain John Barnwell sent a soldier into the church to retrieve a prayer book, then performed a burial service for the British soldiers. He then said that America could defeat the British while still having the civility to give them a Christian burial.

Confederate Generals Lt. General Richard H. Anderson and Brigadier General Stephen Elliott are buried here as well. The cemetery across the street contains the graves of persons who died from dueling and suicide since they were not allowed burial on the hallowed grounds of the church yard.

Wesley United Methodist Church – 701 West Street

The Wesley United Methodist Church was established in 1833 as a mission for slaves and free blacks of Beaufort and the surrounding sea islands. This church, whose congregation was made up of black and white members was built in the meeting house form, which was common to the Methodist church.

The churchyard contains unmarked graves that predate the sanctuary’s construction. Headstones of both black and white members can be found in the cemetery. The church’s third pastor was buried here in 1871. According to legend and the blog of Fallon Green, an African American Genealogy expert, “These hallowed grounds contain the remains of former slaves, civil war soldiers, and some of Beaufort’s earliest prominent citizens.

The church building was given a new role in the community during and after the Civil War. The church hosted a school for freemen. It also continued to serve the community as a house of worship. The church was turned over to the African American congregation after the war and began a formal affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal Church.  During Reconstruction, the first black minister was appointed to the church in 1873.

It is believed that the church was built in the 1840s. The outside structure has been dutifully maintained. The porch, steeple and choir loft were added sometime between 1849-1899. From 1847-1850, the church had 379 African American and 27 white members. The church proudly stands today in pristine condition and serves as a monument to the history of the African American population of Beaufort.

A commemorative plaque recognizes the foundation they laid for others to build upon and is dedicated to all – known and unknown – who rest here in.

The Baptist Church of Beaufort – 601 Charles Street

The Baptist Church of Beaufort began life on this spot in 1795. The present building was built in 1844 at a cost of $10,000. In 1857 the congregation was comprised of 183 white members and 3,557 slave members (many of the slave members attended missions on the sea islands). After the Civil War, the formerly enslaved members went on to create Tabernacle Baptist Church and the First African Baptist Church.

The church served as a hospital for black soldiers during the Union occupation of Beaufort. As a result, graffiti can still be found on the belfry beams and a sanctuary wall. A black deacon returned the communion silver that he had hidden away in his feather mattress during the war. The old pews were returned to the sanctuary. The communion table was recovered from Charleston.

The congregation was able to reclaim and repair the Greek revival style house of worship after the war. Thankfully, the interior of the building was left intact. The cove ceiling is adorned with beautifully crafted plaster ornamentation. All plaster work was created by highly skilled slave artisans. The ceiling was restored in 1953. Craftsmen were able to use 98% of the original rosettes. Recently, the ceiling was once again restored.

Doric columns support a gallery that wraps around three sides of the interior. This area has the best advantage for viewing the beauty of the interior and ceiling fretwork. The floors are made of heart of pine lumber and have been magnificently preserved.

A steeple was added to the church in 1961. Additions were also made to the rear of the church in 1997. 29 feet were added to the west wall to expand the sanctuary. This allowed for the placement of a historic pipe organ.

Tabernacle Baptist Church – 907 Craven Street

Tabernacle Baptist Church was built by Beaufort Baptist Church in the 1840s, to be used as a meeting house and lecture room. In 1863, Reverend Soloman Peck, of Boston, acquired the building, organized the church, and brought 500-members of the African American congregation from Beaufort Baptist Church to Tabernacle. In 1867 the congregation bought the property from Beaufort Baptist.

The church was rebuilt and rededicated after suffering damage during the hurricane of 1893. The stained-glass windows are fashioned from broken bits of colored glass that are held together by lead. To appreciate the beauty, it is best to see them from the inside.

Windows facing the graveyard have examples placed on the windows to show visitors a view of what the windows look like from the interior. If you ever get the opportunity, walk inside, and stand in amazement at the beauty these windows create.

The graveyard contains markers dating back to 1817, hinting that the praise house may have stood on the site before the 1840s. Robert Smalls and his first wife Hannah are also buried in the church yard. A memorial statue and plaque to Smalls is located beside the church.

Smalls was born into slavery, then in 1862, while working as a part of the crew of the Confederate steamer “the Planter”, he captured the ship and sailed it out of the Charleston harbor past Ft. Sumter and right into the hands of the Union army. Smalls went on to serve in the Union army and captain “the Planter”. After the war, he had a distinguished career in the House of Representatives and Senate. He then served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

St. Peter’s Catholic Church – 710 Carteret Street

The beautiful St. Peter’s Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic church in Beaufort County. Closed for many years, the church has been returned to its former glory. Built in 1846, the chapel intimately seats 100 parishioners. The classical revival church has beautifully restored double doors, flanked by large multi-paned windows. These large windows extend down both sides of the chapel.

A brick wall that separates the church from the street dates to 1857. A Gothic trefoil window was added over the pulpit in 1899. Be sure to meander through the churchyard where you’ll find several fine examples of 19^th and 20^th century gravestone art. The church served as a school run by abolitionists during the Civil War. The building continued service as a mission after the war. In 1923 the interior was renovated. The church doubled in size with additions in 1943. The nave was enlarged, and the front porch was enclosed.

As time went on, the congregation outgrew the small chapel. Another church was built on nearby Lady’s Island. The small chapel then fell into disrepair until it was completely restored in 2012.

During the 2012 renovation windows were replaced with period-appropriate panes and restoration glass. Walls were replastered, hardwood floors were replaced, and the ceiling was repaired. An earlier renovation that enclosed the front porch was reversed and it was restored to its original design.

Today the chapel is used for occasional weekday mass, small weddings, and funerals. Tours are also available at Historic St. Peter’s Catholic Church and Graveyard. Tours are canceled when special events are scheduled at the historic church. Call (843)522-9555 for more information.

First African Baptist Church – 601 New Street

The First African Baptist Church was built by freed slaves in 1885. The congregation grew from an Antebellum Praise House attended by some of the African American members of the Beaufort Baptist Church. These men purchased the land and built the praise house in 1863, only two years after emancipation.

The church was used as a school to educate freedmen after federal occupation. By 1865 a cornerstone was laid, and work began on the new church.

In 1885 the congregation had grown to more than 900 members. They built this handsome and commodious carpenter Gothic church. Its most prominent member was Robert Smalls. He was a Civil War hero, state legislator and US Congressman. Smalls is buried in the churchyard of nearby Tabernacle Baptist Church. Only two members of the church are buried on the grounds of the First African Baptist Church. Arthur Waddell served as first pastor to the church. He is buried here, along with Deacon Isaac Moultrie.

 According to the historic plaque in front of the church, “In 1895 First African Baptist Church was described as one of the most aristocratic colored churches in Beaufort.” No attention to detail was spared on the construction of this beautiful church. The white clapboard siding, simple gothic windows with black shutters and wooden doors are kept in immaculate condition.

A peek through the second story middle window reveals a bell tower ladder. The front doorways are carved with circular motifs and crowned in pediments. The massive side windows boast 27 panes each! Almost the entire structure of the church as seen today is original. Today the former parsonage houses the church archives. Photos, historic documents, books, and bibles can be viewed here, along with an old travelling communion set.

First Presbyterian Church – 410 Church Street

Beaufort’s First Presbyterian Church was built in 1928. Prior to construction, the closest Presbyterian church was Stoney Creek Chapel, located 15 miles away in McPhersonville. Stoney Creek Chapel was built in 1743 and served as a summer chapel when Beaufortonians moved inland to escape the summer heat and threat from mosquitoes.

By 1912, the First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort was established, and sanctuary construction began in 1928. By 1929 a new white clapboard-framed church stood proudly on the corner of North and Church Streets. The colonial revival church has tall, arched windows made of clear glass. Church members worked diligently to complete the interior under the direction of chief carpenter and minister F.B. Mayes.

 By 1941 the church was completed, and all debt was paid. The Beaufort Gazette wrote an article about the church, stating, “This beautiful and artistic little church is a source of pride and gratification not only to the Presbyterians of Beaufort, but to the entire community.”

When the 1950s rolled around the little church had grown to over 200 members. It was obvious that the time was right to expand. Rather than disturb the integrity of the beautiful church, a two-story building was constructed just across the street.

The church celebrated its 100^th birthday back in 2012. The church has been preserved and retains its original integrity. The wooden floors and pews are just as beautiful today as when the church was first constructed. Black shutters adorn the arched windows on the sides of the church and azaleas in the churchyard bloom pink in the spring.

Beth Israel Synagogue – 401 Scott Street

Beaufort’s thriving Jewish community predates the American Revolution. The Beth Israel congregation originally held services in private homes, the Masonic Hall, and the Beaufort Arsenal. As membership grew the need arose to build a permanent home for the congregation. In 1905 members of the Jewish community purchased a lot on Scott Street adjacent to the Beaufort Arsenal. A charter was granted by the state on October 16, 1905. The building was dedicated on June 14, 1908 and the congregation has worshipped there ever since!

The Beth Israel Synagogue was built by members of the congregation. The simple, frame building is one of the few wooden synagogues in continued usage in the southeast. The white clapboard structure has wooden double entry that is flanked by narrow, tall, pained windows. The same windows line each side of the church building. A social hall was added in the 1950s.

The congregation of Beth Israel Synagogue has been home to many prominent Beaufortonians. Alexander Hamilton’s half-brother Peter Lavien was a merchant who lived and worshipped in the city before the American Revolution. Major Meyer Jacobs of the Beaufort Artillery helped welcome the Marquis de Lafayette to Beaufort in 1825. Jacobs also served as mayor and a member of state legislature.

Land for a cemetery was purchased in 1910. it sits nearby on Bladen Street. The cemetery has lovely iron gates that include the Star of David motif. A parsonage was also added for the religious leader in 1920.

The Beth Israel Synagogue congregation celebrated its 1ooth anniversary in 2005. According to their website, “We work to maintain our religious traditions and Jewish identity, and to ensure at least another hundred years for this beloved Beaufort congregation, Beth Israel.”

For more information on Beaufort attractions visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/beaufort-port-royal-area/.

Many Beaufort, SC homes located in the historic district pre-date the Civil War, thanks in part to the fact that its citizens fled the city before Union troops made their way into town. Beaufort became the headquarters of the US Army, Department of the South. Most homes were converted into hospitals, offices and officer’s quarters. One home was even repurposed as a bakery.

The Beaufort historic district is a mix of Federal, Neoclassical, Greek Revival and Victorian styles. The city is also known for its widespread use of tabby construction, using oyster shells, sand, lime and ash to make an early form of concrete.

The house at 212 New Street was built by William Waterhouse for his wife. The piazzas of this late Victorian span across the eastern and southern sides of the house.  The style of this house combines Queen Anne and Classical Revival elements of design.

The Thomas Hepworth House, located at 214 New Street, is long been referred to as Beaufort’s oldest house. Thomas Hepworth was Chief Justice of the colony. He acquired an original land grant in 1717, with a stipulation that a house be built within 5 years. The Dutch-influenced home has served as a residence, Republican Headquarters, a boy’s school and a meeting place for Masons. It was converted into apartments during World War II, then restored to a single-family dwelling in the 1950s. The Colonial two-story cottage is located in the heart of the Old Point. Rumor has it that the ventilation piercings of the tabby foundation (at the back of the house) were used as rifle slots to defend against Indian attacks.

The George Mosse Stoney house is located at 500 Port Republic Street. Dr. Stoney built the house for his wife Sarah Barnwell around 1823. Visible Greek Revival details were added around 1840. The street view has a small porch, but the side and back open with large porches to catch the river breeze. When first built, this house was only one room deep.

The Cuthbert Scheper Simmer House was built in 1820. It sits on a beautiful corner lot at 915 Port Republic Street. The house was built on a high brick foundation and originally one room deep. The house was expanded in 1875. During Civil War occupation, the Cuthbert family moved to Aiken and never returned to Beaufort. The Federal Army used the home as a bakery. Harriet Tubman baked bread here when she was stationed in Beaufort with the Federal Army. The house was changed in the 1870s with the addition of the second story veranda, a cupola, a storm entrance and a beautiful iron fence. The yard has a Victorian garden that still retains its original footprint. The house also contains a basement cistern that supplies water from 120 feet underground.

The Milton Maxcy Secession House, at 1113 Craven Street, is the spot where southerners first hatched plans for secession. The house was built in 1810 as a school for boys. Edmund Rhett bought the house in the 1850s and renovated it in the Greek Revival style. Edmund and his brother Congressman Robert Barnwell Rhett hosted gatherings of like-minded southerners in the house. During the Civil War the house was used as a hospital, officer’s quarters and paymaster’s office. Civil War scribblings have been discovered on the basement walls. Governor Carroll Campbell and US Senator Strom Thurmond added their signatures to the wall. Vice President George HW Bush added his signature to the wall in 1988.

The William Fickling House sits at 1109 Craven Street. It is believed to have been built in the 1790s when Mr. Fickling came to Beaufort to teach at a boy’s school. Another theory suggests it was built in the 1820s with renovations and additions being completed before and after the Civil War. The house is now the rectory for St. Helena Episcopal Church.

The W.J. Jenkins house sits two blocks away at 901 Craven Street. Built in 1845, this house is a good example of a finely proportioned Beaufort house. Union troops occupied the house during the Civil War.

The Beaufort Arsenal is down the street at 713 Craven Street. Construction began in 1795. It was designed to house a magazine capable of containing a hundred thousand weight of gun powder and a thousand stand of arms. The Beaufort Volunteer Artillery rebuilt the complex in 1852. This army was organized in 1775 and fought in every war fought by this nation including the Revolutionary War. The Beaufort Museum is in the building today. Two brass trophy guns captured from the British in 1779 are in the yard. The guns were seized by Union troops during the Civil War at the Fall of Fort Walker in 1861. They were returned to Beaufort around 1880.

The 500 Block of Craven Street contains charming examples of Victorian architecture. These homes were built in the 1880s and 1890s. The houses are nearly identical in design and ornamentation. Newly invented woodworking machinery was invented in the late 19^th century and was implemented in the decorations of these homes.

The Castle is located across the street at 411 Craven Street. This house was built for Dr. Joseph Johnson in 1861. Some elements of the house were waylaid during the Union naval blockade. Bricks for the house were made on Dr. Johnson’s plantation on Lady’s Island. During the Civil War the house was used as a hospital. After the war Dr. Johnson reacquired his house for the sum of $2,000 in back taxes. The house remained in the Johnson family until 1981. The Italian Renaissance house is made of bricks covered in plaster. The house towers over an entire city block. The gardens contain hundreds of azaleas and camelias. Live oaks cover the yard as well. The garden also contains two ancient olive trees brought from the Mount Olives in the Holy Land.

The current house at 310 Federal Street was built sometime after the Civil War. It is known as Moorelands. It was built on the original tabby foundation of the home that burned in the 1890s. That home was used as a hospital during the war. The house sits beautifully against the backdrop of the Beaufort River.

The William Fripp House, or Tidewater is located at 302 Federal Street. It was built in 1830 by one of Beaufort’s wealthiest planters. He also owned more than 3,000 acres of land on St Helena Island with nine plantations. The home’s two-story portico faces the river to take advantage of the breeze.

Cassena sits at 315 Federal Street. Built in the early 1800s, the house was owned by sisters Ann B. Oswald and Mary Bell. After the Civil War the house was bought by a former slave of Mary Bell. The house remained in her family until it was severely damaged in the storm of 1893. It stood abandoned until 1898. The home was restored to its former glory.

The William Wigg Barnwell House sits two blocks away at 501 King Street. It formerly sat at the corner of Prince and Scott Streets until 1973. It was slated for demolition when the Historic Beaufort Foundation stepped in and saved the historic home. During the Civil War the house served as Union Hospital #4. The house stayed in the Barnwell family until 1895. The house next served as a school and apartment house. The house was purchased and restored by Savannah’s famous antiques dealer Jim Williams

411 King Street’s  F.W. Sanders House was built in 1910 after the original structure burned in the Fire of 1907.  Like so many of its neighbors, the house is built of heart-pine, but it contains mahogany woodwork.

Built in 1856, Little Taj stands proudly at 401 King Street. It looks out over a tidal basin The name refers to a modern reference due to the fact that a reflection of the house can be seen in the tidal pool across the road. The Beaufort style house was built to take full advantage of the breezes. A recent renovation revealed the corner supports of the house are made from limbs of trees that are six inches in diameter and were not sawed.

Located at 604 Pinckney Street, the Edward Means House was built between 1855-57. The brick mansion was used as Union Hospital #2 during the Civil War. The interior boasts marble mantles and a floating spiral staircase. The porches face south to capture the prevailing breezes.

The Paul Hamilton House, or the Oaks is located at 100 Laurens Street. Magnificent oaks shade the Italianate house that was built in 1855. Expansive porches wrap around two stories and three sides of this beautiful house. The house was abandoned in 1861 and used as Union Hospital #1. After the war Mr. Hamilton bid on his house and was given three days to secure the funds. He traveled to Charleston to do just that when his young son ran home to inform the family the home was going to be sold at sunset. Local citizens saved the day when they rallied to raise the funds to purchase the home in the name of Mr. Hamilton.

The Edgar Fripp House is commonly known as “Tidalholm” because the Beaufort River practically surrounds it. Located at 1 Laurens Street, this Italianate house was built in 1853 as a summer home. During the Civil War the home served as Union Hospital #7. According to family legend, when Mr. Fripp returned to Beaufort after the war, the house was being sold for taxes. He was regrettably unable to bid on the home. A Frenchman who was sympathetic to the South won the bid on the home. He then presented the deed to the former owner, then returned to France before the debt could be repaid.

The Berners Barnwell Sams House can be found at 201 Laurens Street. This home was built in 1852 with massive Doric columns and plantation-made brick. The flat roof is topped by a lovely balustrade. The Classic Revival home was used as a hospital during the Civil War. The dependency outback used to contain a cookhouse, blacksmith shop, laundry room, storeroom and servant’s quarters.

Elizabeth Hext House is located at 207 Hancock Street. Built in 1720, the house is considered to be one of the oldest homes in Beaufort. This early example of Beaufort architecture is set high on a tabby foundation. The house remained in her family until 1864, when it was sold by the US Tax Commission for $640.

The John Archibald Johnson House can be found at 804 Pinckney Street. This three-story house was built by Dr. Johnson in the 1850s. It was used as a hospital during the Civil War. The house sustained damage in the 1970s and slated for demolition when the Historic Beaufort Foundation purchased the property. It was resold to new owners who wanted to restore the historic property. The home reflects the prosperity of the time it was built. The wrap around piazzas can be accessed from multiple rooms, allowing breezes to enter the house in the summer.

The Talbird-Sams House sits at 313 Hancock Street. This simple example of Beaufort architecture was built around 1786. The house served as part of Union Hospital #3 during the Civil War.

The Robert Smalls House proudly stands tall at 511 Prince Street. Robert Smalls was born into slavery at this home in 1839, to the household of John McKee. At 12, Smalls was sent to Charleston, and remained there until the outbreak of the Civil War. He worked for the Confederacy on the CSS Planter. During a daring act of heroism, Smalls sailed the ship through the Charleston harbor to freedom. After presenting the ship to the Union Army he became a Union soldier. After the war he returned to Beaufort and bought the home where he was formerly a slave. After his return to Beaufort he was elected as the first African American Congressman.

The Daniel Hingston Bythewood House can be seen at 711 Prince Street. This house is another fine example of early Beaufort style. Mr. Bythewood was a British merchant and sea captain. He built this house in 1792 for his wife Elizabeth Taylor. She convinced him to give up life on the sea to become a Baptist missionary. The home is built on a tabby foundation and flanked with chimneys.

901 Prince Street is the site of the Frederick Fraser House. The 1803 home is built on a raised foundation and is fronted by double verandas. The exterior is made of brick covered in stucco and scored to resemble masonry blocks. The first-floor veranda is accessed by way of double stairs. A Palladian doorway accesses the second.

Beaufort’s lovely homes fan out in every direction from here. Take a walk and get lost on the beautiful streets framed in Spanish moss draped live oaks.  Stroll through the church yards while you’re here. Bring the camera and capture the images for future viewing. Beaufort is sure to amaze you.

You can also read about the Architectural Treasures of Bay Street.