St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (Charleston, South Carolina)

Infobox religious building
building_name=St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church


caption=St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church
location=Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
geo=32° 46' 54.6" N 79° 55' 58" W
religious_affiliation=Roman Catholic
district=Diocese of Charleston
status=
website=
architecture_type=
architecture_style=Roman
facade_direction=
year_completed=1839
construction_cost=
architect=
capacity=
length= 84 ft (25.6 m)
width= 50 ft (15.2 m)
width_nave=
height_max=
dome_quantity=
dome_height_outer=
dome_height_inner=
dome_dia_outer=
dome_dia_inner=
minaret_quantity=
minaret_height=
spire_quantity=
spire_height=
materials=Stucco over brick
nrhp = yes
added = November 7 1976
refnum =76001697
designated =

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, which is formally called St. Mary of Annunciation Roman Catholic Church, is the first Roman Catholic church in the Carolinas and Georgia. The current building at 93 Hasell St. in Charleston, South Carolina, is the third structure to house the congregation on this site.

The property and an old building was purchased in 1789. It was incorporated as the Roman Catholic Church of Charleston by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1791. The first structure was replaced by a brick church that burned in the Charleston fire in 1838.

The church was rebuilt quickly and reopened on June 9 1839. It is a rectangular building, 84 ft (25.6 m) by 50 ft (15.2 m). It was built of brick with a stucco covering. The are four Doric columns that support a large entablature. The parapet wall at the top of the church was probably constructed around 1896. There are stained glass windows imported from Munich.

The nave has a central aisle and two large rows of pews. There are smaller aisles along the sides. Above the altar, there is a painting of the Cruxification painted by John S. Cogdell. The artist donated this painting to replace an earlier painting he had done in 1814, which was destroyed in the fire.

The church graveyard is on each side and to the rear of the church.

The St. Mary's Church is on the National Register of Historic Places, No. 76001697. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information. [ [http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710095/index.htm Pictures of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.] ] and copies of the nomination forms. [ [http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710095/index.htm St. Mary's Church nomination form.] ]

There are additional pictures and information available from the Historic American Building Survey at the Library of Congress. [ [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html Prints and Photographs Online Catalog - Search for "St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church."] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.catholic-doc.org/saintmarys/index.htm#history St. Mary's website]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/charleston/ Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings, a National Park Service "Discover Our Shared Heritage" Travel Itinerary]