Old Sheldon Church Ruins- Yemassee, SC

Although unfortunate, ruins may be all that is left of an architecturally interesting structure. Often hauntingly beautiful, they stand as a reminder of the passage of time, the ephemeral nature of the built environment, and of dramatic events that unfolded in the distant past. Case in point, the Old Sheldon Church Ruins located outside of Beaufort, South Carolina.

Constructed between 1745-55, Prince William Parish Church was one of the first examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. Funded by plantation owner William Bull, who is buried onsite, it was named Sheldon Church after his ancestral home in England. Boasting thick brick colonnaded walls of Femish bond, a portico crowned by a triangular pediment with bulls-eye window, and a large front doorway topped with a fanlight and two round-headed windows on either side, it was a substantial structure, built to last. At least under normal circumstances.

The church was first destroyed in 1779, during the Revolutionary War, by British troops led by General Augustine Prevost. Set on fire, only the brick skeleton of the church remained. Although it existed in that state for several decades, it was eventually rebuilt using the remaining walls in 1825. As it is wont to do, history repeated itself on January 14, 1865, when the church was burned again by General Sherman’s troops, as part of his “March to the Sea” campaign. This time, the church was not rebuilt.

Remaining in ruins far longer than it served as a church, it is a stark reminder of the ravages of war. The site itself however, is ridiculously photogenic, dappled and drowsy with a backdrop of draped oaks. Late afternoon offers excellent lighting, but be prepared to share- it is a popular spot for photo shoots. That said, patience will be rewarded with fabulous images.