National Historic Landmark

Huguenot Church

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
Listed
November 7, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001687

About this property

The Huguenot Church, also called the French Huguenot Church or the French Protestant Church, is a non-denominational Protestant church located at 136 Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina. Built in 1844 and designed by architect Edward Brickell White, it is the oldest Gothic Revival church in South Carolina, and has been designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The congregation it serves traces its origins to the 1680s, and is the only independent Huguenot church in the United States. As Protestants in predominantly Catholic France, Huguenots faced persecution throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, many Huguenots fled France for various parts of the world, including Charleston. The early congregation of Charleston's Huguenot Church included many of these refugees, and their descendants continued to play a role in the church's affairs for many decades. The church was originally affiliated with the Calvinist Reformed Church of France, and its doctrine still retains elements of Calvinist doctrine. The church's services still follow 18th century French liturgy, but are conducted in English. The church is located in the area of Charleston known as the French Quarter, which was given this name in 1973 as part of preservation efforts. It recognizes that the area had a historically high concentration of French merchants. Peter Manigault, once the wealthiest man in the British North American colonies, is buried in the church cemetery.

Location

136 Church St.
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
32.78073, -79.92898

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

St. Philip's Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Charleston's French Quarter District
Listed
0.1 mi
Powder Magazine
Industrial
0.1 mi
Market Hall and Sheds
Industrial
0.1 mi
U.S. Customhouse
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Charleston Apr-May 1780
1780Revolutionary War
0.1 mi
Siege of Charleston
1780Revolutionary War
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Huguenot Church listed on the National Register?

Huguenot Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Huguenot Church?

Huguenot Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Huguenot Church a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Huguenot Church has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Huguenot Church?

The period of significance for Huguenot Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Huguenot Church?

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