Charleston Episcopal Church Photo, SC 1706

Frances Benjamin Johnstons vintage photograph captures a significant architectural landmark in Charleston, South Carolina. This structure, an Episcopal church, dates back to 1706, making it one of the oldest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in the state. The church underwent major renovations in 1723, expanding to its current dimensions, but faced destruction in a fire in 1764, after which the original walls were rebuilt.

The image showcases distinctive features such as elegant doorways and fanlights, framed by the iconic Spanish moss that drapes over the surrounding landscape. This photograph is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, a comprehensive documentation project aimed at preserving the architectural heritage of the region.

Johnstons work is not only a visual representation of historical architecture but also contributes to our understanding of Charlestons rich cultural landscape. The photograph was published in the 1938 volume Plantations of the Carolina Low Country by Samuel Gaillard Stoney, further highlighting its significance in the study of Southern architecture.