With the many beautiful & historic churches sprinkled around Charleston it’s no wonder they call it the Holy City. We love our churches so much that our city has ordinances prohibiting any building being built taller than our church steeples. This adds to the uniqueness of our beautiful skyline.
If you are visiting Charleston and want check out some of our most popular churches or if you looking for a new church to call your home, here’s a list to get you started!
ST. PHILIP’S CHURCH
Location: 142 Church Street, Charleston
St. Philips Church is a historic church built in 1836. Originally established in 1680, St. Philip’s Church is home to the oldest congregation in South Carolina. The original church was constructed in 1681 and was located on the site where St. Michael’s now stands. Today the church is registered as a national historic landmark.
Visitor tip: The building and graveyard are open to the public Mon-Fri from 10am-12pm and 2pm to 4pm. The historic graveyard has graves of notable authors, governors, congressman and even a vice president. But don’t be scared, the church says “The only ghost here is the holy ghost”.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):Sunday
8:15 a.m. ~ Holy Communion, Rite One (spoken)
9:15 a.m. ~ Christian Education for all ages
10:30 a.m. ~ Principal Worship Service
Holy Communion on the first, third, and fifth Sundays and Morning Prayer on the second and fourth Sundays Wednesday
8:00 a.m. ~ Morning Prayer, 1928 Book of Common Prayer (Chapel)
5:30 p.m. ~ Wednesdays Alive! (contemporary communion service) mid-September through June
View the St. Philip’s Church website
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
Location: 120 Broad Street, Charleston
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. The first brownstone cathedral was built in 1854 and burned in a great fire in December 1861.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):
Saturday5:30 p.m. ~ Viril Mass Sunday
9:00 a.m. ~ Family Mass
11:15 a.m. ~ Solemn Mass with the Cathedral Choir
Daily Mass (Monday-Friday) ~ 12:05 p.m.
View the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist website
CIRCULAR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Location: 150 Meeting Street, Charleston
The Circular Church is one of the oldest worship congregations in the South dating back to 1681. In addition the graveyard is the city’s oldest burial grounds with monuments dating from 1695.
The earliest records of the church were lost in an early 18th century hurricane but a meeting house was at this location in the late 17th century. Meeting Street gets its name from this house of worship.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):
Sunday8:30 a.m. ~ Sunday Morning worship
11:00 a.m. ~ Sunday Morning worship
Summer Sunday worship is at 10:00 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
View the Circular Congregational Chuch website
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Location: 61 Church Street, Charleston
The First Baptist Church was the earliest Baptist church in the south and was organized on September 25, 1682. First Baptist Church is currently affiliated with the Southern Baptist denomination. The current Greek Revival sanctuary was built in 1820.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):Sunday
8:30 a.m. ~ Morning Worship (Less formal, Contemporary)
11:00 a.m. ~ Morning Worship (Classical Charleston Tradition)
View the First Baptist Charleston’s website
ST. MATTHEWS LUTHERAN CHURCH
Location: 405 King St., Charleston
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Charleston was incorporated in 1840. The congregation’s first purchase was a cemetery for the burial of German-speaking citizens during a yellow fever outbreak in 1841.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church is the tallest building in Charleston as well as the tallest church in the state of South Carolina with it’s steeple standing at 255 feet.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):Sunday
9:00 a.m. ~ Sunday Parish Education
10:00 a.m. ~ Sunday Worship
View the St. Matthews Lutheran Church website
ST. MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Location: 71 Broad St., Charleston
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church is the oldest surviving religious structure in Charleston, located at Broad St. and Meeting St. It was built in the 1750’s and is declared a National Historic Landmark.
The St. Michael’s churchyard is houses some famous historical figures, including two signers of the U.S. Constitution.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):Sunday
8:00 a.m. ~ Reflective & Quiet, Holy Communion, Rite I
9:15 a.m. ~ Sunday School for All Ages
10:30 a.m. ~ Chapel Service (2nd Floor Belser Building)
10:30 a.m. ~ Holy Communion, Rite II with Full Choir
6:00 p.m. ~ Contemporary Worship, Holy Communion, Rite II Wednesday
5:30 p.m. ~ Worship & Praise – Breaks for Summer – Chapel (2nd floor Belser Bldg)
6:00 p.m. ~ Church Family & Alpha Dinner (Kinloch Room, Belser Bldg)
6:30-7:30 p.m. ~ Mid-Week classes for All Ages, Alpha Program (An Introductory Course to Christianity)
View the St. Michael’s Church website
EMANUEL AME CHURCH
Location: 110 Calhoun St., Charleston
The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the Southern US. This church is one of the few well preserved historic church interiors in the area with original features including the altar, communion rail, pews and light fixtures. The church has a capacity of 2,500 people.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):Sunday
8:30 a.m. ~ Worship Service Wednesday
6:00 p.m. ~ Bible Study Thursday
6:00 p.m. ~ Bible Study
View the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church website
FRENCH HUGUENOT CHURCH
Location: 136 Church St., Charleston
This Gothic Revival church was built in 1844 and is the oldest Gothic Revival church in South Carolina. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is located in the area of Charleston known as the French Quarter.
SERVICE TIMES (check website for most up to date information):
Sunday10:30 a.m. ~ Weekly Service
View the French Huguenot Church website
OTHER CHARLESTON CHURCHES
UNITARIAN CHURCH OF CHARLESTONLocation: 4 Archdale St., Charleston
Official website GRACE CHURCH CATHEDRAL
Location: 98 Wentworth St., Charleston
Official website KAHAL KADOSH BETH ELOHIM
Location: 90 Hasell St., Charleston
Official website ST. MARY OF THE ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC CHURCH
Location: 95 Hasell St., Charleston
Official website
