Road Trip - The Old Sheldon Church, Gardens Corner - South Carolina
"The Lowcountry, historic beauty."
Our Road Trip this takes us just north of Gardens Corner, SC to explore the 260 year old cemetery and ruins of the Sheldon Church (The Prince William Parish Church).
This is one of the LowCountry′s most historic and a beautiful churches. Today, all that stands of the old church are four brick columns and the exterior brick walls containing arched windows and doors. A monument to the hardships of warfare that this state has experienced over its 300-year history, the cemetery contains the graves of those brave men who stood for freedom and independence.
Originally built between 1745 - 1757, (believed to be 1748) of brick and tabby. The church was destroyed in May of 1779 by British troops under the command of General Augustine Provost, rebuilt in During the Revolution, the Patriots are believed to have stored gun powder in it. In 1779, when the British General Augustine Prevost invaded the Lowcountry, the church was burned by a detachment which according to tradition, was commanded by the flamboyant local Tory, Andrew Deveaux. Rebuilt in 1826, and subsequently burned again in 1865 by General William Tecumseh Sherman′s troops.
This inspiring property is covered with ancient live oaks drapped with Spanish moss, dogwoods, magnolias and hollies. The original cemetery still remains with graves dating as far back as the late 1700′s. (This is a National Register of Historic Places site)
The site is located between the Town of Yemesse and Gardens Corner, on the Old Sheldon Church Road which has a canopy of trees, mysterious and magnificent. The intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 21 is Gardens Corner. Be sure to spend some time in the rich history of Beaufort and other find locations through out the Lowcountry.
This information was compiled from various sources found on the internet.
Other Historic Sites of Interest
The Penn Center - est. 1861, the nation′s most significant African-American education center. This is where Martin Luther King, Jr. began his "I Have a Dream" speech.Located on St. Helena Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina.
Mitchelville - the first freed Negro township.
St. Helena sites - home to the roots of African-American history.
Gullah Heritage Trail - Hilton Head Island.
Ibile Indigo House - a working studio where visitors learn the tradition of West African indigo-dye processes and products.
Zion Chapel of Ease - Hilton Head's oldest cemetery.
Queen Chapel AME Church - established in 1860 as a "praise house" for Pope Plantation slaves.
Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot Museum, located on Parris Island, near Port Royal, South Carolina.
Old Sheldon Church ruins - Loacted beween Gardens Corner and Yemassee, South Carolina.