In further correspondence he also relates to his mother that the newly freed people are having to find - or make - places to live and that he is "seeing parts of Sheldon Church all over Beaufort.". This recently found 100 year old portrait would most likely be it. The ruins of Prince WiIliam’s Parish Church, known today as the Old Sheldon Church, is probably one of Beaufort’s most photographed of all of her historic sites. Get in touch at. The image was brought to attention by Mr. Sonny Bishop of St. Helena Island. However, written letters dating back to 1866 that have turned up recently may say otherwise. Old Sheldon Church is located on Old Sheldon Church Road between Gardens Corner and Yemassee. Consequently, the church was burned by the British in 1779. In 1826 it was rebuilt and legend says it was later burned again by William Tecumseh Sherman in 1865, during his fire-wielding march through the south. Later correspondence says he's seeing parts of Sheldon all over Beaufort. More than just an intriguing example of what 18th-century, Greek-Revival architecture looked like, the church is an important landmark and a piece of history that dates back to before The Revolutionary War. Folks flock there to sit and experience the quiet history that surrounds them among the hulking oak trees draped in a somber Spanish moss. I visited in person, wandering through the ruins and wondering about the comment our reader had made. We may never really know what happened. Was our beloved Old Sheldon Church stripped of reusable wares and reused by the locals for repairs or buildings of their own? The church was built between 1745 and 1753 in a Greek Revival style of architecture. An alternative account of what happened was recently recovered in earnest family correspondence suggests this might be the case. It’s a very very safe bet to say that, yes, this is what Prince William’s Parish Church looked like back in 1753 when its construction was completed. Leverett and his wife fled to property they had in Columbia. You will receive your first email soon. Robin Jarvis Sheldon Church was named as such to sync up with a local plantation named "Sheldon Hall." The Old Sheldon Church Ruins, originally known as Prince William’s Parish Church on Old Sheldon Church Road, was built between 1745 and 1753 in a Greek Revival style of architecture. Some believe that it was the first church in the United States of America to have intentionally been built to look like a Greek temple, although this assumption is questionable because it is not backed up with any valid documentation. Milton Leverett's letter to his mother explicitly says the church was not burned and that the damage could be repaired. On February 3, 1866, Beaufort’s Milton Leverett wrote that, “Sheldon Church not burned, just torn up in the inside, but can be repaired.” The inside of the church was apparently gutted to reuse materials in rebuilding area homes that were burnt by Sherman’s army, and the actual church itself was not burned a second time. Is ANY of it true? Thus, there was extensive correspondence among the now-separated family members. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Thank you! After a comment about Old Sheldon Church appeared from a loyal reader on a recent article, we decided to chase down some more information. 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Thank you! But was it all just war propaganda? The Old Sheldon Church Ruins, located just outside of Beaufort in Yemassee, SC along Old Sheldon Church Road, was originally known as Prince William’s Parish Church. This restoration drawing was done by a man named John Wenrich, and was based on what [of the church’s construction] had been left behind. Some things are better left to mystery, and that just adds to the allure of the site. Yemassee, SC 29945. It was found in a book titled Prince William’s Parish, published by Garrett and Massie, Richmond, VA in 1935. The correspondence of a local area resident who actually saw the church after Sherman claimed to have burned it certainly points to the possibility. During the Revolutionary War, Prince William's Parish Church was used as a strategic political and military site. Enjoy some photos of what we see today when visiting one of the most sacred spots in all of the Carolina Lowcountry. The architecture of the building is a Greek Revival style of architecture and is said to be the first conscious attempt in America to imitate a Greek temple. What's more, the patriarch of the family, the Reverend Charles Leverett, served at Sheldon Church until he retired in 1859. The Leveretts' son, Milton Leverett, was running the family plantation near Beaufort. On the photo, it says, “…based on a study of existing walls and fragments of entablature that were later found around the ruins.”. For most of the last 150 years, the commonly held belief about Sheldon Church has been that Sherman marched across the border from Savannah in February of 1865 and burned Sheldon to the ground...well, to the brick, anyway. 10 great spots to snap a selfie in Beaufort. However, details that can still be found clearly suggest that the … Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. Now called "Sheldon Church," the new structure was patterned after the old and reconstructed around the original remaining 3-foot-thick brick walls. Coming from Beaufort on US 21 North, as you approach the intersection of US 17 at Gardens Corner, bear left, continue through the stop sign and go about 1/4 mile. History claims Prince William’s was burned by the British in 1779 during the Revolutionary War. Could the North have grossly overstated the triumph of that particular event either to intimidate or to look good in reports? After the start of the war, Rev. All Rights Reserved. Both of these were named after the Bull family home, also called "Sheldon Hall," in Warwickshire, England. What do you think happened? We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. Or perhaps Sherman wanted to be sure it looked like he was following orders so maybe he stretched the truth accordingly? Turn right onto Sheldon Church Road, which is directly across from Bull Point Plantation. Your email address will not be published. The Church is said to be the first conscious attempt in America to imitate a Greek temple. To get there from I-95 take Exit 33 (U.S. Highway 17 north) towards Beaufort. Robin Jarvis is a travel and entertainment writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. We’d love to hear your opinion, so tell us in our comments on our Facebook page! It would lay in ruin for the next 40+ years before it was rebuilt and opened again in 1826. And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: Sheldon Church was first completed in 1753 and was then known as Prince William's Parish Church. ™ Turn left onto Cotton Hall Road (S-7-48). Made with ♥ in Beaufort, South Carolina. When she's not working, she loves to hike, kayak, and check out new adventures. The images below are from my visit last week to Old Sheldon Church near Yemassee, SC. Do you believe it was burned the second time or do you think it was stripped of reuseable parts that were repurposed in the buildings throughout Beaufort? We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And this is where the waters either get very muddy, According to the website's account of the published letters, Milton specifically tells his mother that Sheldon Church was not burned, but just all torn up on the inside and that it could be repaired. She spent more than two decades living on the coast in South Carolina and currently lives in the mountains of North Carolina - although she still makes it back to see family in South Carolina quite often. But the ruins we have left today to wonder at….is simply amazing. Proudly supporting LOCAL #BeaufortSC businesses. The Old Sheldon Church Ruins is a historic site located in northern Beaufort County, South Carolina, approximately 17 miles (30 km) north of Beaufort in the Sheldon area. See other South Carolina Bygone Landmarks, See other South Carolina National Register. Beaufort is home to an incredible amount of beautiful churches, but even in its current state, the Old Sheldon Church sits near the top of the list. So, was Sheldon Church relatively OKAY after the War of Northern Aggression? The letters were written to and from family members between 1851 and 1868. What’s up with this new version of what really happened to Sheldon Church near Yemassee? Contributed by Sonny Bishop of St. Helena Island, Chad McMeen of Yemassee, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent, Homer M. Pace, III of Charleston, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent, Fred Jacob Gray, Jr. of Hampton, 1997 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent, Sara Dean of Moncks Corner, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent. Did Sherman exaggerate the damages? Sheldon Church was named as such to sync up with a local plantation named "Sheldon Hall." Love South Carolina? As if that wasn't enough to make it a target, the Bull family vault was used to hide arms and ammunition. In architecture, entablature is defined as “a horizontal, continuous lintel on a classical building supported by columns or a wall.” This tells us that part of the roof was laying around somewhere close by, and also that Prince William’s was heavily studied by professionals and perhaps partially put back together in vision, when this painting was created. In 2001, the South Carolina Press released a book of edited letters sent between family members of a prominent Beaufort, SC family. The family was based in Beaufort and had a home on Bay Street. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! But, have you ever wondered what the Prince William’s Parish Church looked before it was destroyed for the final time during the Civil War? Now called "Sheldon Church," the new structure was patterned after the old and reconstructed around the original remaining 3-foot-thick brick walls. Follow U.S. 17 north for about 3 miles (5 km). WIth a much-debated history, the church dates all the way back to the mid-1700s. His parents remained on their property in Columbia until after the war.

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