Church of the Holy Cross (Stateburg, South Carolina)

Church of the Holy Cross
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Historic Church of the Holy Cross, High Hills of the Santee, Stateburg, built of rammed earth
Location:	SC 261, 335 N. Kings Hwy. Stateburg, South Carolina
Coordinates:	33°57′12″N 80°31′56″W / 33.9534°N 80.5322°W / 33.9534; -80.5322Coordinates: 33°57′12″N 80°31′56″W / 33.9534°N 80.5322°W / 33.9534; -80.5322
Built:	1850-1852
Governing body:	Church of the Holy Cross
NRHP Reference#:	73001732
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	November 7, 1973[1]
Designated NHL:	November 7, 1973[2]

Church of the Holy Cross, also known as the Holy Cross Episcopal Church, is an historic church in Stateburg, in the High Hills of Santee near Sumter, South Carolina. It is located on land donated earlier by General Thomas Sumter, a resident of Stateburg, and its walls were constructed of rammed earth. Across the road from the church is Borough House Plantation, the home of Dr. William Wallace Anderson, chairman of the committee that built the church. In 1820, Dr. Anderson had built his own house of rammed earth on the plantation. With its additional rammed earth outbuildings, the plantation complex is also a National Historic Landmark.

In 1973, Holy Cross was added to the National Register of Historic Places,^[1] and was declared a National Historic Landmark.^[2][2][3] Joel Roberts Poinsett and many other 19th century South Carolinians are buried in Holy Cross' historic churchyard.

The Church of the Holy Cross is still an active parish in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. The Rev. Thomas W. Allen is the current rector.^[4]

An 18-month, $2.3 million restoration to repair extensive termite damage was completed late January of 2010.^[5]

Notable burials

• Joel Roberts Poinsett (March 2, 1779 – December 12, 1851), physician, botanist and American statesman. The Poinsettia is named for him.
• George L. Mabry, Jr. (September 14, 1917-July 13, 1990), Major General, U.S. Army. Medal of Honor recipient.^[6][7]

See also

Anglicanism portal

• List of Registered Historic Places in South Carolina
• List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
• Stateburg Historic District

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Church of the Holy Cross". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1387&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2008-03-08. 
3. ^ Mary Ann Eaddy (April 23, 1973). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Church of the Holy Cross / Holy Cross Episcopal Church - Church of the Holy CrossPDF (32 KB). National Park Service  and Accompanying one photo, exterior, undatedPDF (32 KB)
4. ^ Church of the Holy Cross contact page
5. ^ Celebrating a Historic SC Church's Rebirth, Cotton Boll Conspiracy, September 26, 2011
6. ^ Photo of Grave site of MOH Recipient George Mabry
7. ^ George Lafayette Mabry, Jr (1917 - 1990) - Find A Grave Memorial

External links

• Church of the Holy Cross, Episcopal, Stateburg website
• Church of the Holy Cross, Sumter County (SC Hwy 261, Stateburg vicinity), including 8 photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
• History of Church & Joel R. Poinsett
• Paper on Rammed Earth with a History of Church of the Holy Cross
• Paying Homage to One of SC's Fallen, Buried at The Church of the Holy Cross, Cotton Boll Conspiracy, May 30, 2011