|
The Scotch Presbyterian
Church
CHARLESTON
The congregation of the Scotch Presbyterian
Church, at 53 Meeting Street, Charleston, dates from 1731. It
was organized by Scottish families who withdrew from the
original Congregational bodv and built upon this site. The
Reverend Hugh Stewart, a native Scot, was its first pastor.
The building was erected in 1814, the land titles stipulating
that the property should be used only for a Presbyterian
church retaining the Church of Scotland form of government.
The structure was badly damaged by the earthquake of August,
1886, but was fully restored. It is a massive stuccoed
building with twin towers rising above a columned portico, and
has one of the finest auditoriums in the country.
Queen
Victoria's daughter, the Princess Louise, with her husband,
the Duke of Argyle, were in Charleston in 1883, and visited
the Scotch Church to inspect a memorial tablet to their
cousin, Lady Anne Murray.
President James Monroe
attended services in this church, hearing a sermon by the
Reverend Mr. Reid, the pastor.
The church celebrated its
bicentennial in March, 1931.
There is an adjoining cemetery in which some of
Charleston's most illustrious Presbyterians are
buried.
BY
HAZEL CROWSON SELLERS
South Carolina
Churches |