St. Philip's Church of Charleston: An Early History of the Oldest Parish in South Carolina

by Dorothy Middleton Anderson, Margaret Middleton Rivers Eastman

Overview

St. Philip's Church was commissioned shortly after the Carolina colony was founded in 1670. Because the Church of England was the established church, St. Philip's tried to meet the spiritual needs of the early settlers and also was responsible for oversight of elections, education and social services in everything from healthcare to disaster relief. St. Philip's churchwardens and vestry enforced morality laws and levied taxes. The colony's first state funeral--that of Governor Robert Johnson--took place in the church, as did that of the controversial, one-time vice president, Senator John C. Calhoun. Buried in the churchyard are Founding Fathers, pirate hunters, war heroes, statesmen and even the unfortunate victim of a sensational murder. This book recounts the early years of St. Philip's Church, the people who walked its aisles and some of the early religious conflicts that shook the community. Authors Dorothy Middleton Anderson and Margaret Middleton Rivers Eastman outline the fascinating history of the first church in the new colony.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625854070
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	05/04/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Dorothy Middleton Anderson is an eleventh-generation Charlestonian. She had a brief career as the society editor for the Charleston Evening Post before spending fifty years as a community volunteer. She, along with her sister, Margaret Middleton Rivers, updated and published their mother's book, "Jeremiah Theus: Colonial Artist of Charles Towne." Dorothy is a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in South Carolina, and has participated in many volunteer organizations.
A native Charlestonian, Margaret (Peg) M.R. Eastman was a professional guide at Winterthur Museum in Delaware. She coauthored "Hidden History of Old Charleston" and authored "Remembering Old Charleston." She is a freelance writer for the Charleston Mercury and has lectured on Charleston architecture.