The Steeples of Charleston
Charleston’s skyline isn’t defined by skyscrapers, it’s shaped by steeples. In this series, we’ll take a closer look at the historic spires that have stood watch over the Holy City for centuries, one church at a time.
Why “Steeplechase”? The term comes from 18th-century horse races in Ireland and England, where riders would race from one church steeple to the next, using the tall spires as guiding landmarks across the countryside. That is what inspired our own Steeples of Charleston series.
Photo Credit- Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church Instagram
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
110 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401
The steeple of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, affectionately known as Mother Emanuel, stands as more than just architectural beauty. This soaring spire represents centuries of resistance, resilience, and faith in the face of systemic oppression. Designed by Irish architect John Henry Devereux and completed in 1891, the Gothic Revival structure replaced an 1872 wooden church that was destroyed by the 1886 earthquake. The congregation added the distinctive bell tower and steeple in 1902, crowned today with an octagonal copper-clad design. After Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the wooden steeple was destroyed and replaced in 1990 with a steel-framed design built to withstand future storms.
The congregation was founded in 1816 when Morris Brown led Black members out of Charleston’s Methodist Episcopal church over a disputed burial ground, becoming the South’s first African Methodist Episcopal church. In 1822, a founding member by the name of Denmark Vesey, who bought his freedom with lottery winnings, was accused of planning a slave revolt. This caused an enraged group of white people to burn the church to the ground as retaliation. Vesey and 34 other members were executed and the reverend at the time, Reverend Brown, fled to Philadelphia. In 1834, all-Black churches were outlawed, forcing the congregation underground until 1865 when they reorganized and adopted the name Emanuel, a Hebrew name that means “God with us.” Mother Emanuel has hosted Booker T. Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Coretta Scott King, serving as a beacon for civil rights activism.
On June 17th, 2015, nine members of Emanuel’s congregation were killed during Bible study in a racially motivated attack that shook the nation. A year after the attack, the church’s first female pastor Rev. Dr. Betty Deas Clark said in a sermon: “Last summer, our church suffered a great tragedy. But we never gave up our faith. We never gave up on God because God never gives up on us. Through it all, our church stands strong.” Today, Mother Emanuel’s steeple continues to rise above Calhoun Street, a testament to a congregation that has refused to be silenced.
In Memory of:
Clementa C. Pinckney
Cynthia Graham Hurd
Susie Jackson
Ethel Lee Lance
Depayne Middleton-Doctor
Tywanza Sanders
Daniel L. Simmons
Sharonda Coleman-Singleton
Myra Thompson
Denmark Vesey
….and the generations of Black Charlestonians who suffered under racial injustice, violence, and oppression.
Photo Credit- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Instagram
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
120 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist spent 103 years without its crowning glory. When Brooklyn architect Patrick Charles Keely designed the Gothic Revival cathedral between 1890 and 1907, he planned for a soaring steeple to top the 80-foot entrance tower. The missing steeple became one of Charleston’s most talked-about architectural absences, that is, until 2010.
This was actually Keely’s second attempt at a cathedral on this site. His first design, the Cathedral of St. John and St. Finbar was completed in 1854 and stood 219 feet tall with an ornate steeple and bronze cross. Just seven years later, the Great Fire of 1861 destroyed it all. The ruins stood for decades until 1886 when the infamous earthquake finally collapsed what remained of the tower.
Keely took to rebuilding his masterpiece, his replacement using Connecticut brownstone and followed 14th-century English Gothic decorative style. The new interior also featured 14 stained-glass windows depicting Christs’ life, created by Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich. Three original Vermont marble altars and carved Flemish oak pews completed the interior design, yet he was unable to complete the steeple before his death in 1896.
Charleston’s Glenn Keyes Architects finally completed Keely’s vision in 2010. The 85-foot copper lattice spire was topped with a 16-by-9-foot gilded Celtic cross and features open grillwork that allows wind to flow through, protecting the historic structure below.
Did you know? The cathedral site was once Vauxhall Gardens, a post-Revolutionary “pleasure garden” complete with bathing rooms and a circus, before Bishop John England purchased it in 1821.
Circular Congregational Church
150 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
Photo Credit- Circular Church Facebook
When Robert Mills designed the Circular Congregational Church building in 1804, he deliberately excluded a steeple following the Neoclassical principles of his mentor Benjamin Latrobe. Charlestonians weren’t having it. A popular rhyme mocked the steeple-less church: “Charleston is a pious place / And full of pious people / They built a church on Meeting Street / But could not raise the steeple.”
The congregation finally appeased the critics in 1838 when they hired architect Charles Reichardt to add a 182-foot steeple in which he took inspiration from James Gibbs, a Scottish architect, and Sir Christopher Wren, a prominent English Baroque architect. Mills’ revolutionary circular church could accommodate 2,000 worshippers and was described by one observer in 1818 as “the most extraordinary building in the United States,” as it was the first major domed structure in North America.
The Great Fire of 1861 caused extensive damage to the church, and the 1886 earthquake reduced what was left of the church to ruins. When the congregation rebuilt between 1890 and 1892, they chose a Richardsonian Romanesque design by New York architects Stephenson & Greene, using bricks salvaged from Mills’ original structure. The new building kept the “Circular” name but adopted a cloverleaf shape with a central tower. Stephenson & Greene’s steeple was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and has since been replaced with its current steeple that is still standing tall today.
Did you know? This church is responsible for giving Meeting Street its iconic name. The road was originally called “Meeting House Street” after the congregation’s first building, the White Meeting House, built before 1695.
Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul
126 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403
Photo Credit- The Cathedral Church Facebook
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul takes a different approach to Charleston’s skyline. Rather than a single soaring spire, this Neoclassical church features dual towers capped by distinctive domes, creating a symmetrical silhouette that stands apart from the city’s Gothic Revival counterparts. Originally known as St. Paul’s Radcliffeboro when construction began in 1811, the church was built to serve the growing Anglican population north of Calhoun Street.
The architect behind this Federal-style design remains unknown, though the dual façades draws inspiration from Benjamin Henry Latrobe’s work. The façades feature a partially recessed portico flanked by the distinctive domed towers, creating a Roman elegance that contrasts Charleston’s more common English-inspired designs. Inside, the interior remains almost baron of ornamentation except for the richly painted chancel decorated with Corinthian pilasters featuring gilt capitals.
The cathedral’s resilience was tested during the Civil War when it remained in continuous use, sheltering congregations from churches closer to Union artillery. St. Luke and St. Paul gave its bell up for the Confederate cause, sending it to Columbia to be melted down and turned into cannons for the war. Today, the cathedral is known for its exceptional acoustic properties, making it a sought-after venue for performing artists during the Spoleto Festival. The twin domes continue to mark the Holy City skyline, proving that Charleston’s architectural heritage isn’t limited to pointed steeples.
Did you know? The stained-glass windows in the apse were installed in 1991 and designed in the style of Sir Christopher Wren, the famous 17th-century architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Citadel Square Baptist Church
328 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
Photo Credit- Citadel Square Instagram
The steeple of Citadel Square Baptist Church is an example of Charleston’s Romanesque Revival architecture, characterized by its rounded arches and substantial masonry proportions. Constructed between 1855 and 1856 by the architectural firm Jones & Lee, the church was built in what some call a “pure Norman” style, a term that came from Norsemen who settled in Normandy, France. The church got its name from its prominent location directly across Marion Square, which then housed the Citadel Military College.
After the 1885 hurricane destroyed the original steeple and the 1886 earthquake further damaged the structure, Boston architect Edward Silloway designed a replacement that maintained the Romanesque character while incorporating lessons learned from Charleston’s seismic history. Although built to withstand an earthquake, it was no match for a hurricane.
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo destroyed Silloway’s steeple, calling for a third restoration. The current 210-foot tower was constructed shorter than the original design and notably lower than most other steeples in Charleston. This architectural restraint reflects a philosophy prioritizing structural stability over height and grandeur. The Romanesque Revival style, with its thick walls, rounded arches, and solid proportions, creates a visual counterpoint to Charleston’s slender Gothic Revival spires, offering architectural diversity to the Holy City’s skyline.
Did you know? Citadel Square Baptist Church was the first church in Charleston to televise its services, broadcasting for more than 40 years before discontinuing the practice in 1998.
Unitarian Church in Charleston
4 Archdale St, Charleston, SC 29401
Photo Credit- Unitarian Church of Charleston Instagram
Although this church lacks a traditional steeple, the tower rising above the Unitarian Church still holds the same symbolic significance in the Holy City’s skyline. Originally constructed as a simple Georgian meeting house beginning in 1772, the structure received an elaborate Gothic Revival makeover between 1852 and 1854. Architect Francis D. Lee, who was only 26 years old at the time, drew inspiration from Westminster Abbey’s Chapel of Henry VII, bringing English Gothic grandeur to Charleston.
Lee partnered with architect Edward C. Jones in order to execute this ambitious transformation. They raised the roof four feet and constructed an ornate tower crowned with eight paneled buttresses, soaring pinnacles, and intricate medieval-style finials. The tower also included a minister’s office and showcased what may have been the first Gothic Revival building constructed in the United States, with Victorian Gothic ambition at its peak.
Unfortunately, the elaborate tower only stood for 32 years. When the earthquake of 1886 struck, the entire top of the tower collapsed through the roof and into the nave below, destroying part of the celebrated fan-vaulted ceiling. Boston architect Thomas Silloway led the restoration using $17,000 from Unitarians nationwide. His design prioritized survival over ornamentation with the tower being rebuilt in a lowered and more simple form to increase the structural stability.
Did you know? The church’s interior features a rare fan-vaulted ceiling that closely resembles English Gothic prototypes and was considered among the finest examples of that style in America when completed in 1854.
St. John’s Lutheran Church
5 Clifford St., Charleston, SC, 29403
Photo Credit- St. John’s Lutheran Church Instagram
St. John’s Lutheran Church is home to Charleston’s oldest Lutheran congregation, with roots stretching back to 1752. The original congregation worshipped in a wooden church with a humble steeple that stood behind the current site on Clifford Street. The pastor of the church during the American Revolution, Reverend John Nicholas Martin, was expelled from the city by the British after he refused to pray for the King of England. Dr. John Bachman became St. John’s pastor in 1815 and directed the construction of the current church building the following year.
Although the completion of the church only took two years, it took another 40 years for the building to get its steeple. The steeple was constructed by David Lopez, the same contractor who contributed to Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue on Hasell Street. While the exact designer of the building remains unclear, it is known that famous miniaturist and architect Charles Fraser submitted several steeple designs to the church before construction began.
This longstanding Lutheran congregation endured many of Charleston’s historic disasters, including the 1886 earthquake and the hurricane of 1891. The damage sustained from these two disasters led to the addition of a recessed chancel with memorial windows. When Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989, the church was successfully restored, preserving both the original Federal-Baroque design of the building and the Italianate-style steeple.
Did you know? Two of pastor Dr. John Bachman’s daughters married sons of naturalist John James Audubon, and Bachman himself collaborated on the famous publications “The Birds of America” and “Quadrupeds of North America.”
Second Presbyterian Church
342 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
Second Presbyterian Church’s square bell tower tells the story of Charleston’s most practical steeple, one that never became a steeple at all. Built between 1809 and 1811, this Classic Revival church was designed with plans for having a soaring spire. Instead, the congregation made a uniquely Charleston decision: the unfinished steeple was to be used as a lighthouse. Rather than complete the architect’s original design, the practical Presbyterians discovered their tower served the merchant community and many of the Charleston families that owned shipping businesses.
Established when First (Scots) Presbyterian could no longer accommodate its growing congregation, Second Presbyterian was built on land from the Wragg family in Wraggborough. Sitting on one of the city’s highest points, the brick structure with its octagonal bell tower was visible from great distances, a perfect match for maritime navigation. The tower saw through many of Charleston’s disasters with resilience; from the 1813 hurricane to the 1886 earthquake and even a 2020 lightning strike that required extensive restoration.
Today, Second Presbyterian stands as the oldest Presbyterian edifice in Charleston and holds the distinction of being the Presbyterian Church’s “Historical Site Number One.” Its practical tower continues to define the Holy City skyline, proving that sometimes the most memorable architecture comes from embracing purpose over planned perfection.
Did you know? The graveyard contains what may be the only grave of a Charlestonian who died as a direct result of the War of 1812, along with nine graves of church members who died fighting in the Civil War.
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Photo Credit-Larry_watkins Instagram
134 St. Philip St, Charleston, SC 29403
The bell tower of St. Patrick Catholic Church tells a remarkable story of perseverance and renewal in Charleston’s Upper Peninsula. This Gothic Revival steeple, rising above the corner of St. Philip and Radcliff Streets, was born from disaster when the 1886 earthquake transformed destruction into opportunity.
Bishop John England established the parish in 1835 after discovering nearly 50 Catholic families north of Calhoun Street who needed their own church. A modest, wooden structure built in 1838 served the growing Irish community for almost fifty years, until Father Daniel J. Quigley envisioned something grander.
In 1884, Quigley began construction of a substantial brick church to replace the aging wooden building. Progress halted when Charleston’s catastrophic earthquake of August 1886 reduced the partially built structure to rubble. Using donations from Catholics across the nation, Quigley redesigned the church with enhanced structural integrity. Remarkably, by December of that same devastating year, the congregation was celebrating Mass in a new and improved parish.
The full church was dedicated on May 15, 1887, crowned by an impressive bell tower that announced the triumph of faith over catastrophe. Quigley spent years perfecting his vision, adding an organ in 1891 and completing all finishing touches by 1899.
Did you know? Father Quigley rests eternally in a tomb at the base of the very tower he fought so hard to build.
Grace Church Cathedral
Photo Credit- Grace Church Cathedral
98 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
Grace Church Cathedral’s steeple has seen its share of adversity over the centuries but continues to stand tall. While architect Joseph Hyde designed the main building, Edward Brickell White created the distinctive steeple that was completed in 1848. White, who also designed the French Huguenot Church and St. Matthew’s steeple, crafted a Gothic Revival tower that rises over the Holy City.
Founded in 1846 as Charleston’s fifth Episcopal congregation, the church’s trials began early. During the Civil War, an artillery shell struck the structure in 1864, forcing closure until the following year. After reopening, the devastating 1886 earthquake severely damaged the building, and over the years it was impacted by hurricanes in 1911 and 1989.
The steeple’s most dramatic chapter unfolded in 2005 when parishioners discovered the structure had begun leaning dangerously, with walls threatening to collapse. An earthquake in Virginia in 2011 sent tremors down to Charleston, further compromising the building’s integrity. For over a year, the congregation worshipped elsewhere while extensive $12 million repairs were completed.
Grace gained new prominence in 2015 when selected as the diocesan cathedral for the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. The designation was celebrated in 2016 when the Dean of Canterbury presented the church with a Canterbury cross, cementing its role as the spiritual center of the state’s Episcopal community.
Did you know? Grace Church Cathedral’s steeple was rebuilt using modern engineering techniques hidden in White’s original Gothic design, making it one of Charleston’s most structurally advanced spires.
French Huguenot Church
136 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401
Easily recognizable by its light pink stucco exterior, the French Huguenot Church stands apart from most other churches in Charleston for what it doesn’t have – a traditional steeple and spire. Instead, this Gothic Revival building, designed by Edward Brickell White in 1844, features a horizontal design with a distinctive tent-like roof that creates a unique silhouette among Charleston’s towering church spires.
This building represents the congregation’s third home. The original church was destroyed by city authorities to stop a spreading fire, replaced in 1800, then demolished once more to build the current design. Despite Civil War damage and the devastating 1886 earthquake, the church was restored and continues to serve as the only independent Huguenot congregation in America.
White, who also designed St. Philip’s steeple, created this church for Charleston’s French Protestant community. The congregation traces back to 1680 when Huguenot refugees first arrived from France. Following Calvinist traditions that emphasized simplicity over grandiose displays, they chose architectural restraint rather than vertical ostentation.
The Gothic features include narrow buttresses topped with elaborate pinnacles and cast-iron crockets covering the front windows. Inside, plaster ribbed vaulting and marble tablets honor prominent Huguenot families. The horizontal design creates bold lines that stand out among Charleston’s vertical skyline, proving that sometimes the most memorable buildings are those that dare to be different.
Did you know? The church houses a rare 1845 tracker organ by Henry Erben that produces Baroque-period tones, similar to organs for which Bach and Handel composed.
First (Scots) Presbyterian Church
53 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
The dual towers of First (Scots) Presbyterian Church have watched over Meeting Street since 1814, making it the fifth oldest church building in Charleston. Scottish brothers John and James Gordon built the current structure to replace an earlier, wooden church. The congregation originally started in 1731 when a dozen Scots left what’s now the Circular Congregational Church to worship on their own. The building’s design borrows inspiration from Baltimore’s Basilica, but the Scottish touches make First Scots uniquely Charleston: from the stained glass that shows symbols of their heritage to the wrought iron grilles that feature a Scottish thistle design.
The bell story is what really sets First Scots apart. During the Civil War, the church gave up its bells for the Confederate cause. For over 100 years, the towers stayed silent to honor those lost in the war. That changed in 1999 when St. John’s Church in Preston, England had eight old bells they didn’t need anymore. Seven made their way to Charleston. The 1886 earthquake had damaged the southern tower too badly to hold multiple bells, but the northern tower got the big one – 1,470 pounds and 43 inches across. Congregant Bonnie Workman helped fund it, so they named the bell “Bonnie.” Now it rings out over the Holy City after more than a century of silence.
The towers on the impressive church still stand guard over the corner of Meeting and Tradd streets, a reminder of Charleston’s Scottish roots and eclectic religious history.
Did you know? Tartan flags in the churchyard mark where the original 1731 wooden church once stood.
St. Matthew’s Church
405 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church towers over King Street at 297 feet, dominating the Charleston skyline and boasting as the tallest church spire in South Carolina. Irish architect John Henry Deveraux designed this Gothic Revival building between 1867 and 1872 for Charleston’s growing German Lutheran community. It represents the architectural ambitions of Charleston during the city’s post-Civil War rebuilding period.
The congregation was established in 1840 when German-speaking Lutherans first gathered at a small church on Hasell and Anson streets. But as Charleston’s German population expanded, they outgrew their original sanctuary and needed a larger space. When St. Matthew’s opened in 1872, approximately 3,000 people attended the dedication ceremony.
On January 13, 1965, disaster struck. Fire swept through the church and caused the massive steeple to crash into King Street below, the spire’s point piercing the sidewalk next to the front door. Rather than removing this remnant of the disaster, the congregation chose to preserve it. They encased the steeple point in concrete and marked it with a commemorative plaque, creating an unusual memorial that visitors can still see today.
The church was rebuilt by 1966, but the original iron finial designed by Charleston ironworker Christopher Werner proved too expensive to replace at $500,000. However, several original elements survived the fire, including the stained-glass windows in the apse and under the balcony, as well as the original pulpit from 1872.
Today, St. Matthew’s stands as one of over 1,400 historic buildings in downtown Charleston. The rebuilt spire continues to define the city’s skyline. Representing both the congregation’s resilience and commitment to preserving this architectural landmark, the church proves that sometimes the best comeback involves rising from the ashes.
Did you know? The original congregation’s leader was Johann Andreas Wagener, who later became mayor of Charleston from 1871-73.
St. Michael’s Church
71 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
Photo by The Post and Courier
At the intersection of Broad and Meeting streets in downtown Charleston stands what Robert Ripley of Ripley’s Believe It or Not famously dubbed the “Four Corners of Law” in the 1930s. This remarkable crossroads brings together four buildings representing different branches of legal authority: Charleston City Hall, the Charleston County Courthouse, the United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse, and St. Michael’s Anglican Church. Dominating the southeast corner at an impressive 186 feet tall, St. Michael’s represents ecclesiastical law in this unique arrangement. Constructed between 1751 and 1761, the church holds the distinction of being Charleston’s oldest surviving religious structure, its towering presence having overlooked the city’s historic intersection for nearly three centuries.
Throughout its history, St. Michael’s has demonstrated remarkable resilience withstanding natural disasters, military conflicts, and development. The church bears witness to Charleston’s tempestuous past, including a visible reminder of the Civil War – a battle scar at the base of the pulpit where artillery shelling left its mark. Historic pew boxes also remain intact, including Pew 43, also known as “The Governor’s Pew.” This particular spot holds significance as the chosen seat for historical figures President George Washington and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, their visits separated by seven decades of American history.
Builder Samuel Cardy’s Georgian architectural masterpiece borrowed inspiration from London’s St. Martin-in-the-Field, featuring white stucco walls and a two-story portico with Tuscan columns. The stained-glass collection features Tiffany Studios’ “Easter Morning” memorial window that uses over 2,000 glass pieces and a chancel window depicting St. Michael conquering Satan based on Raphael’s work. Some other notable interior features include change-ringing bells in the tower that were originally cast in 1764, an organ dating back to 1768, and a Victorian altar from 1892.
Whether you’re drawn by the architectural beauty, the rich history, or the spiritual significance, St. Michael’s continues to welcome visitors and worshippers alike, standing as both a monument to Charleston’s past and a living part of the Holy City’s present.
Did you know? St. Michael’s was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
The Cathedral of Saint John The Baptist
120 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
Photo by The Post and Courier
Built in 1890 and completed in 1907, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist replaced the previous cathedral, which burned down in the 1861 fires. At 167 feet tall, this Gothic Revival-style cathedral houses the resting place of the first five bishops of Charleston.
The hallowed grounds of this cathedral were originally built as a venue for post-Revolutionary entertainment, transitioning this space from a place of social leisure to a space of spiritual practice and devotion. Now, it is a popular destination for visitors strolling the streets of Downtown Charleston.
Little do people know, the spire is a recent and long-awaited addition that perches high above the gleaming asphalt of the sidewalks below.
St. Philip’s Church
142 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Photo by The Post and Courier
Standing tall since the 1840s, the steeple of St. Philip’s Church (designed by Joseph Hyde, with the steeple designed by Edward Brickell White) is one of Charleston’s most iconic landmarks, rising high above the low, historic skyline. Its classical design and weathered speak to the city’s rich colonial past and architectural legacy. In fact, the churchyard contains the graves of many prominent figures, including signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Once used as a navigational marker by sailors entering the Charleston Harbor, the steeple was both a literal and symbolic guidepost. Beyond its maritime function, the steeple also stood as a spiritual and civic center, visible to all as a strong symbol of faith and endurance. Today, it still watches over the Holy City, standing as a witness to decades of history and now.