The pulpit in St. Michael's Church, Charleston, South Carolina. June 22, 2008.
The picture above was taken in June, 2007, of the pulpit in St. Michaels Church, Charleston, South Carolina. Betsy and I attended Sunday services at the church and toured the sanctuary after the service.
St. Michael’s Church is the oldest church building in the City of Charleston, standing on the site of the first Anglican Church built south of Virginia. The cornerstone for St. Michael’s was laid in 1752 and in 1761 the church was opened for services. The only change to the structure of the building was the addition of a sacristy in 1883. St. Michael’s is one of the few city churches in America that has retained its original design.
The pulpit is the original one, remarkable for both its height and the sounding board supported by two Corinthian columns. The panel on the front of the pulpit was taken as war booty after the War Between the States and then later voluntarily returned and replaced on the pulpit. The base of the pulpit still shows the scar caused by a shell which exploded in the church during the Federal bombardment of the city in 1865.
The pews in the church are very much as they have always been. There is a large, long double-pew in the center of the church, No. 43, originally known as “The Governor’s Pew”. George Washington sat in that pew during worship on May 8, 1791, and General Robert E. Lee worshipped in this same pew during the first year of the Civil War.
St. Michael’s is a beautiful church. If you are interested, more pictures of St. Michael’s Church can be found HERE.
Tags: Charleston, South Carolina, Travels
Senior Moments 
February 26, 2009 at 7:00 am |
Charleston is a great place to visit. They have really improved the entire downtown and Battery Park area over the years. Thanks for sharing the pictures,
Jane
February 26, 2009 at 7:44 am |
This is one gorgeous church – I just love the right wood orante pulpit! It reminds me of the one a historical church we have in Detroit called St. Annes.
February 26, 2009 at 9:01 am |
Wonderful! Such a great old church.
February 26, 2009 at 9:30 am |
I think that is the biggest pulpit I have ever seen. Love all that wood!
February 26, 2009 at 10:08 am |
How gorgeous. What a great history too…I would love to see it myself.
Looks as though every seat would be a GOOD seat with the pulpit being so high like that.
thanks for sharing.
February 26, 2009 at 10:39 am |
This is a gorgeous church. I have never seen a pulpit like that one before.
February 26, 2009 at 10:58 am |
A parishoner might tend to get a crick in the neck if they spent much time watching the person giving the sermon. That’s a *high* pulpit! Beautiful, but high!
February 26, 2009 at 12:12 pm |
LOL at Pat. I was kinda thinking the same thing. I bet people claim neck troubles if they attend church there very long. The wood work is beautiful though.
February 26, 2009 at 12:59 pm |
How very beautiful this old church is. Thanks George for sharing all the history.
February 26, 2009 at 3:10 pm |
My brother got married in a church similar to the one you photographed and it was so beautiful! Love those old, ornate pulpits. They are works of art!
February 26, 2009 at 3:41 pm |
They sure knew how to build churches way back when!
February 26, 2009 at 4:30 pm |
that reminds me of a British Church. We loved visiting Charleston last year…..
Gill in Canada
February 26, 2009 at 5:15 pm |
This is a very impressive church! Thanks for showing! Our church is a very modern church and it’s used for all kind of activities like choir practice, wedding receptions, concerts, lunches, coffee mornings for elderly people and I celebrated my 70th birthday in this church with a concert , a reception and a dinner.
February 26, 2009 at 6:37 pm |
I loved the tour and history George. You and Betsy are a well traveled couple. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
February 26, 2009 at 7:38 pm |
I sure wouldn’t mind seeing more of this…it is beautiful.
February 26, 2009 at 9:33 pm |
That is really beautiful. I’ve never been in a church where the pulpit was up like that. I love wood so this had me ooohing and ahhhing.
🙂
February 27, 2009 at 1:09 am |
Thank You George telling all this to us. I enjoyd it highly. The pulpit itself is very nice and interesting.
Regards.
February 27, 2009 at 1:14 am |
Returnig here again.
George, I looked at that “St. Michael’s Church” on Mac. Wow. That was interesting to see inside / outside. Wow, I liked it very much!!!
Regards.
March 10, 2009 at 10:06 am |
Beautiful wooden pulpit ;–)
Hugs and blessings,