St. Mary's Catholic Church

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church

St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church is a Catholic church in Charleston, South Carolina established in 1789, and was the first Catholic parish established in the region. A wooden structure was built in the property but was burned down by the Great Fire of Charleston in 1838. It was later rebuilt and the current brick church in Greek revival style was opened in 1839.

It is a rectangular building, 84 ft (25.6 m) by 50 ft (15.2 m). It is built of brick with a stucco covering. There are four Doric columns that support a large entablature that makes up the entrance portico, and is the most notable feature of the structure. The parapet wall, probably constructed around 1896, sits at the top of the church. Stained glass windows imported from Munich decorates the walls of the church.

Interesting Facts About the The St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Catholicism traces its history in South Carolina as early as 1526, when Spanish Dominican priests celebrated Mass in the Low Country.
On 11 July 1820 Pope Pius VII canonically erected the Diocese of Charleston and appointed Father John England of Cork, Ireland to be the founding bishop, which then encompasses the whole of the Carolinas and Georgia. On this day, the region is home to five dioceses.
The Crucifixion painting that hangs over the main altar was made by John S. Cogdell in 1814. The original was severely damaged during the fire of 1838. When the church was rebuilt, the same artist repainted it on the same canvas. The artist, who is a Charleston local, was a member of the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church congregation.

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