Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Stella Marris Catholic Church

Stella Marris Catholic Church, Sullivan's Island, S.C.

Stella Marris in 1920

This morning's Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance is the Star of the Sea, otherwise known as Stella Marris Catholic Church on Sullivan's Island. It is a beautiful church and I'd always meant to catch it when the trees were in blossom. When I was walking on the island yesterday, the Mexican sage bush in front of the church was alive with yellow butterflies. It was beautiful and as always an opportunity to learn about the church's history.

Stella Marris Catholic Church: Father Bermingham bought the present church lot in October, 1868, for $100. He secured permission from the Secretary of War to use bricks from the ruins of Fort Moultrie to build the new church; indeed, in his enthusiasm for the project, he occasionally had to be physically restrained from tearing down additional walls of the Fort to secure even more bricks. On 18 January 1869 Father Bermingham laid the cornerstone for the new church, which he first called Saint Mary, Star of the Sea, or Stella Maris. Both Protestants and Catholics on the Island donated their time and efforts to clean the bricks from Fort Moultrie and help with the construction.

 

 See the butterflies!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Pon Pon Chapel of Ease

Pon Pon Chapel of Ease, Jacksonboro, S.C.

Pon Pon Chapel is a beautiful spot. I've never seen anyone else there but in truth it is protected by such giant and ferocious mosquitoes that make it pretty much a click a photo and run place. The mosquitoes are so big I was surprised they didn't show up in the picture. This is where they should test insect repellant.

It is a lovely, peaceful place on a quiet country road. SCIWay has a good write up on the chapel. All that is left is the facade, brick ruins and small historic cemetery.

National Registry Property: The chapel site was located on Parker’s Ferry Road, the busy stagecoach thoroughfare that connected Charleston and Savannah. In 1754, a brick chapel was erected to replace the earlier wooden structure. This brick chapel burned in ca.1801, causing Pon Pon Chapel to become subsequently known as the Burnt Church. The chapel was rebuilt between 1819 and 1822, and was in use until 1832 when it was again reduced to ruins. The façade of Pon Pon Chapel had a central, rounded arched entrance flanked by rounded arched windows on either side, all constructed in a brickwork pattern of one stretcher alternating with two headers. The two round windows in the façade’s upper level utilized the same brickwork pattern. The walls were constructed in Flemish bond. The chapel’s historical significance is due in part to Rev. John Wesley preaching two sermons here on April 24, 1737 and for its burial ground that contains the remains of Congressmen Aedanus Burke and O’Brien Smith, in addition to numerous local leaders. Listed in the National Register January 5, 1972.

Going to the Chapel

Wedding Chapel, Ashley Ave., Charleston, S.C.

When I was selling my house downtown I checked out every property on my regular walking routes that was for sale. This little wedding chapel on Ashley Avenue was. I imagined moving in and turning it into a home. It had a relatively large parking lot so I pictured renting out parking spots to help pay for it all. Luckily it was already under contract or I might have done it. I even imagined living in the attic and renting out the bottom for weddings. Heheh.

Now I see someone is planning to use it for a home. Four or five homes in fact. The sign called it "The Chapel Estates" and advertises the property as condos. They are building them in my parking lot.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Navy Chapel

Eternal Father of the Sea, Navy Chapel, North Charleston, S.C.

Renovating this old Navy Chapel on former Charleston Navy Base was on my list of projects if I'd won that $640 lottery jackpot last month. Sadly it looks worse each time I visit. I need to win that lottery soon!

Thanks to everyone for comments and emails. I've been on the run and haven't been able to respond to everyone but appreciate them all. I hosted a luncheon honoring the St. Francis Hospital volunteers at the Marriott on Lockwood yesterday and it was lovely. I am always in awe when I see the whole gang together and realize all the lives they touch. I have over 150 active hospital volunteers at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital and more than double that in the whole Roper St. Francis Healthcare system. What an amazing group.

 I am heading up to a conference in Myrtle Beach shortly but thought I'd update you in adventures in moving - fun, fun, fun!

• Nationwide Insurance does not take change of address information over the phone. Gee, I thought they might want to send me my next auto insurance bill. Nope. Ya gotta come in to the office.  

• The Post & Courier customer service web page doesn't work.

• Comcast is sorry but they have no one to take that call. 

There ya go! I don't know how so many people handle moving every couple of years. Luckily a scanverger lady who lives at a Senior Retirement home came by looking for cans in my trash. I waved her down and loaded up her van with bags of goodies.

Last question - what is the moving guidelines for alcohol? Move it or drink it?

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Jesus Saves

Jesus Saves, Charleston, S.C.

What a beautiful day!

I've posted pictures of this church before but it seems particularly suited for today. Happy Easter kids!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. Andrew's Parish Church

St. Andrew's Parish Church, Hwy 61, Charleston, S.C.

In a way, I did attend! I caught the last day of the St. Andrew's Parish Tea Room yesterday. The Tea Room  is a southern church tradition that amazes me each year. The church members cook and serve exactly the same food every year - she-crab soup, chicken or shrimp sandwiches, congealed salad, coconut cake and the parking lot is full every single day. Loaded buses pull up from retirement homes.

This is the annual fundraiser for the church and I'm glad I didn't miss it. I know so many people that go each year or serve at the event it feels like old home week. When I googled for information to get my facts straight, I found all the pictures I'd taken in past years.

History: In the late 1940's, shortly after the church was reopened, a group of women often spent all day cleaning and preparing the church for worship services. They had their lunch on the lawn, and soon began to share their lunches with tourists who stopped to see the old church. Because there were no restaurants in the area at that time, and as a way of raising funds for renovation, the ladies began selling coffee, lemonade, and sandwiches to tourists. Thus the Saint Andrew's Tea Room was born. Today waitresses are dressed in late 18^th century costumes and serve a full lunch in the Parish Hall. A full gift shop is available and tours of the historic church are available. Proceeds from the Tea Room and Gift Shop provide financial support to a variety of ECW programs and services including mission and ministry in the world and at home, care and outreach in the community and church, support for parish programs and upkeep and restoration of the historic church building.

 

Churches of Northeast India

Presbyterian Church of India, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India

I am taking you off the Charleston peninsula this evening for a tour of Christian Churches in Northeast India.
The first one was far north in Arunachal Pradesh and in a military encampment area. I nodded, tried to look innocent and showed my camera to the Indian Army soldier guarding the remote border area to let him know I simply wanted a photo of the church.

Meghalaya, India

I am not sure about this one. Any ideas? Certainly a surprising sight on a country road in the hills of India. The wording above the entrance is the latin "Venite ad me omnes" which means "Come to me all". I am guessing it is a Catholic Church.

Meghalaya, India

Meghalaya, India

This is an Anglican Chapel in the old British Cemetery in Shillong. There were relocated tombstones from the years of British occupation here.

Meghalaya, India

I spotted this one perched on the side of a hill on a hike up to the Khasi Sacred Forest.

House of Prayer, Arunachal Pradesh, India

This House of Prayer was in the mountain area far north and on an Indian Army base.

I thought this was in interesting collection and reminded me of many of the village churches I worshiped in as a kid.  No worries - I have albums full of Buddhist Monasteries as well!  You should be able to click on the image to get a higher resolution view.

You Know it's Christmas in Charleston when....

St. Matthew's Luterhan Church, King St., Charleston, S.C.

What an odd sight! I grabbed this shot a week or so ago. It was on a weekend so they may have been demonstrating the outdoor fireplace at the Holiday Farmer's Market but how odd to see it in front of the church. It makes a fitting Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance for Christmas.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I've been up at the lake with my son. I packed all the goodies to warm up and we had a cozy, lovely weekend with a bonfire last night and a walk around the lake this morning.

Stephanie Harvin listed these in her column in the Post & Courier last week and so many of them rang true I thought I would pass them on and see if you can think of any others. I didn't include them all so click the link to get to her original post. I love them! Thanks Stephanie!

 You know you have enjoyed Christmas in Charleston if you have ...

... danced until you are dizzy under the Christmas tree in Marion Square.
... watched the sailboats decorated with lights bobbing in the City Marina.
... perspired through your Christmas sweater.
... listened to Jazz Vespers at Circular Congregational Church.
... walked around Colonial Lake in the moonlight.
... had shrimp and grits on your breakfast menu.
... taken the time to get out of your car and look down the waterway when the Wappoo Bridge opens.
... peered through a wrought iron gate to see how the other half lives.
... touched the dancing child statue at White Point Garden.

... fallen in love with white camellias instead of poinsettias.
... walked along the new shops at the Market.
... rocked on a piazza that slants toward the bannister.
... walked the Ravenel Bridge in a winter sunset just to see the colors.
... felt the sand ooze between your toes as the wave runs out at Folly Beach.
... played beach volleyball at the Isle of Palms because the weather was warm enough for a tan.
... had a crab pinch your finger as you were plucking him out of the net.
... smelled the trash can after forgetting to take out the shrimp shells.
... gone for a canoe ride on Lake Moultrie as the sun rises.
... rocked the morning away in a Pawleys Island Hammock.
... sung "Kum ba yah" which is actually a Gul- lah spiritual first recorded on the South Carolina Coast.

... taken the kids out to see the Morris Island lighthouse on a chilly day.
... been thankful that the smell of pluff mud means you're home.
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday.
Reach Stephanie Harvin at 937-5557 or sharvin@postandcourier.com.

Merry Christmas everyone! What should we add to her list? 

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. Johns Episcopal

Anson St., Charleston, S.C.

Charleston looks so festive in her holiday wear it is time to add to the Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance series. I just googled back to discover I posted almost exactly the same shot of this St. John's Reformed  Episcopal Chapel at this time of year in 2008.

I just walked to the Meeting St. Piggly Wiggly store to get ingredients for Curried Zucchini soup. Yum. It is breezy, chilly enough to be a perfect soup day. 

This afternoon is the day that they block traffic from King St. and it looks like they have all kinds of festive things going on. Check out the Second Sunday on King blog for the schedule of events.See you there!

Tea Time

French Huguenot Church, Queen St., Charleston. S.C.

The French Huguenot Church is one of the most beautiful churches in Charleston. Even the roof looks like an elaborate wedding cake. I feel like I should take a pictures every time I go by, so I almost do.

Long day. After work I was invited to tea - a proper British Tea hosted by the tiniest little Scottish lady who cracks me up every time she opens her mouth. It was absolutely perfect. We had cucumber sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and mincemeat tarts. It was BRILLIANT.

I mentioned that when I was a kid, an aunt in Scotland used to send us the "Oor Wullie" cartoons and she pulled one of the annuals off her bookshelf. Wow....talk about a trip down memory lane. Oor Wullie is the Scottish version of Denise the Menace and the cartoon dialect is in Scottish.

Wullie's adventures consist mostly of unrealistic get-rich-quick schemes that lead to mischief, to the despair of his parents Ma and Pa (Dave), and the local policeman, P.C. Joe Murdoch. Wullie's friends are Fat Boab (Eng: Fat Bob), Wee Eck (Eng: Little Alec), and Soapy Soutar, and he is the leader of their gang, a position which is frequently disputed by the others. He used to have another friend called Ezzy, who stopped appearing in the strips, along with Wullie's little brother. He owns a pet mouse named Jeemy and a pet hedgehog named Hamish, and in later years has gained a Highland Terrier named Harry and a "sometime-girlfriend", Primrose Patterson. Characters from The Broons occasionally feature, particularly Granpaw and the seductive Maggie Broon. Noticeably, in the change of artist, Wullie likes Primrose more and Harry and Jeemy are rarely seen. Wullie is nine years old, and his height has been specified at four feet, six inches tall. His catchphrases consist of "Jings", "Crivvens","braw"and "Help ma Boab".

 Anyone else familiar with the series?

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Jesus Feeds His People

This week's Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance is on a small roadside building close to Lake Marion.

Do not drop clothing donations on their porch but I expect they might accept food. Meanwhile, here is a cute religion related joke for you:

 Religious Light Bulb Jokes  

How many charismatics does it take to change a light bulb? One, since his/her hands are in the air anyway.
How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb? None. God has predestined when the lights will be on.
How many Brethren does it take to change a light bulb? CHANGE?!!!
How many Pentecostals does it take to change a light bulb? 10, one to change it and 9 others to pray against the spirit of darkness.
How many tv evangelists does it take to change a lightbulb? One. But for the message of hope to continue to go forth, send in your donation today.
How many Roman Catholics does it take to change a lightbulb? None: Candles only.
How many Amish does it take to change a lightbulb? What's a light bulb?
How many Polygamous Mormons does it take to change a lightbulb? Five. One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.
How many Jehovah's Witnesses does it take to change a light bulb? Three. One to screw in the bulb, and two to knock on your door and ask you if you've seen the light!
How many Unitarians does it take to change a lightbulb? We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - King St., Charleston, S.C.

I used to post a church photo every Sunday but I've been slipping lately. Here is a little sweetie I spotted in a window in lower King St. Here are some of the earlier posts in the series: Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance.

So sad to say goodbye to the weekend. I hope you have all had a good one.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant Hospital Chapel, Mount Pleasant, S.C.

I was over at the new Mount Pleasant Hospital last week and peaked in the little chapel to see the art work that I'd heard had been hung. Artist Regina Bowling had done a beautiful mural for the hospital lobby so I was curious to see what she had come up with for the chapel. Wow. I loved it on first impression. I'll have to study the photos to understand what it all means.

It has been painted on a wooden frame that looks like it is covered in gold leaf and the colors are more brilliant than I have been able to show with my camera. it's definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Pitt St. Sweets

Pitt St., Charleston, S.C.



Pitt Street Sweets.



This is a private residence now, but years ago it was a church and after that belonged to the Association for the Blind. When it belonged to the Association for the Blind they had a sign saying "Scented Garden" and I would close my eyes and inhale deeply breathing in the sweet fragrance when I walked by.

41 Pitt St. -- Association for the Blind -- This building, formerly occupied by Plymouth Congregational Church, was purchased and re adapted for use by the Charleston County Association for the Blind, in 1957. The former churchyard has been landscaped as a fragrance garden for the blind.

More info about the transformation into a private residence here. Now I really want to see inside.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. Mark's

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Thomas St., Charleston, S.C.



“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.”

Langston Hughes



Such dramatic skies we've been having lately. It can be raining on one block and not on the next. It was pouring West Ashley when I left and the sun is shining brightly in town to welcome me home!



Thank goodness Hurricane Irene is skirting the coast. I'm simply not, not, not ready for another hurricane. We had a hurricane preparedness meeting at the friendly little hospital across the river this afternoon as an exercise to make sure we had all of our ducks in a row. I am hoping we don't need any of it this season since I've been gobbling up my hurricane supplies. Cookies - yum.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. Philip's Church

St. Philips, Charleston, S.C.



Yeah! Look what I got! I went garage roof top hopping in the drizzle with an umbrella that kept blowing inside out to see what I could see. I'm not the first to get this view of St. Philip's Church but it tickled me.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Charleston, S.C.

Not my usual Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance but when my brother painted my house, he put a layer of protective varnish on the porch church pew and took a meditative moment. Thanks Jim! It looks great.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Faith, Hope & Charity

Holly Hill, S.C.

I spent the day in the country with good friends and good food. Ribs....yum. It's a lovely drive at this time of year. The fields are green, the corn looks healthy and every time I turn the corner and see this pretty little church I am reminded of how grateful I should be. I've posted it before but this afternoon I stopped to revisit. I even like the name of the church, Faith, Hope and Charity Church. How charming is that?

Thanks to my companions for making it such a lovely day! I made them all look so awful in prank photos I mustn't show them here to protect the innocent. Ha! Let's just say I ordered these Photo Paddles and made them all use them. Saints, I tell ya, my friends are saints!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Morris St. Baptist Church, Morris St., Charleston, S.C.

This odd little corner building looks like part of a structure that collapsed around it. It was abandoned for years but now is all spruced up and appears to be used for something. The main historic Morris St. Baptist Church building is just down the street on Morris.

Below is the same property back from the time when Ninjas Were Real.

I made Sunday brunch for my tenants this morning because I never, ever want them to leave my property. That sounds fair doesn't it? One brunch equals permanent residence.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Khasi Hills

Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India

When I was a kid, living in Shillong, India, we would often attend church services in the outlaying areas. All ten of us would pile in the old yellow Willy's jeep and head far into the hills to remote villages.

I often joke that I have a lifetime pass and won't need to attend another church service as long as I live - and I mean it. I am exempt. Sundays alone could easily involve three separate services, morning, afternoon and end in evening services by kerosene lantern.

I'd spend my time drawing cartoons of the preacher and eagerly offer to take crying babies outside. I'd lay on the grass playing with the kids and torturing ants with my magnifying glass while the congregation belted out the good old familiar protestant hymns in Khasi.

This image is from a brittle slide in my Dad's old box probably from the mid 1960's.