Living History

200 Years of Community

Second Presbyterian Church - Download Sermons

Churches tend have a tendency to swing to two extremes. On one hand, some churches shun the past and tradition in favor of whatever is most contemporary, constantly shifting to the next “big thing” in church styles. On the other hand, some churches seem to only cling to the “glory days” of years past when the church was as much a social institution as it was a spiritual one.

Second Church has been blessed with one of the richest histories in the country, and as proud as we are of it, we know our past is not anchor for maintaining the status quo but is instead roots for keeping us grounded to meet the challenges of the future. Our history is a living history, where we continue in a truly timeless tradition of creating Christ-centered community.

So for those wanting to know, this is our story...

Soon after the founding of Charleston, the community of Presbyterians, dissenters to the Church of England, worshiped together in the White Meeting House, a wooden edifice on Meeting Street. The congregation included English, Irish, Scottish, and Independent Presbyterians. In 1731, twelve families withdrew from the White Meeting House and established what is now the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, modeled strictly on the Church of Scotland. This church grew rapidly. By the end of the century the building was inadequate to accommodate the worshippers and the necessity of a second Presbyterian church was realized. In 1809, fifteen men met and began planning for Second Presbyterian Church. The Reverend Andrew Flinn was called to organize the congregation. The church was built at the then substantial cost of $100,000, and on April 3, 1811, was dedicated with the corporate name of “The Second Presbyterian Church of Charleston and Its Suburbs.” Property for the church was obtained from the Wragg family, whose name was given to the area still known as Wraggborough. The impressive deed and documents of transfer of the property are displayed in the church narthex.

Today, the Second Presbyterian Church is the oldest edifice of this denomination in Charleston, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1852 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States met in this building. Second Presbyterian Church’s minister, Reverend Thomas Smyth, proposed that the Presbyterian Church have a historical association to care for its artifacts and statements of faith. His resolution was passed, forming the Presbyterian Historical Society. The Presbyterian Church of the United States designated Second Presbyterian Church its “Historical Site Number One.” Plaques noting this are mounted in the entranceway.

The Classic Revival sanctuary is brick with stucco applied. The building features two tiers of windows, a square tower with an octagonal belfry, plastered walls, and a tetra Tuscan portico. Architect’s plans called for a church spire, and though building costs were redeemed within a decade, the spire was never completed. This was due in part to the need to alter the original building. The immensity of the sanctuary strained the voices of the ministers. In 1833 the floor was raised three feet, the ceiling lowered sixteen feet, and the rear wall of the nave moved to enlarge the vestibule. The north and south entrances were closed and pews were added. In 1849 the original box pews were replaced by the ones still in use. As was the custom in Charleston, church pews were rented with the rental fee also purchasing a space in the cemetery plot. This custom was discontinued in 1924, but the numbers remain on the pew arms.

A number of natural disasters have damaged the sanctuary. The hurricane of 1813 inflicted great damage to the roof. The earthquake of 1886 damaged the building to the extent of about $6,000. Cracks in the stucco are still evident in the bell tower. During the first century of the church’s existence, the greatest damage to it came with the hurricane of August 27, 1893. The building was unroofed on its north side; the ceiling was so damaged as to necessitate its replacement, and the pews and organ were deluged. In September 1989, Hurricane Hugo wrought similar damage to the sanctuary and set the stage for two further damaging events. In an unusual December freeze, water pipes ruptured and the sprinkler system flooded the vacated sanctuary. Soon after, the heating system, in operation to prevent freezing, ignited debris that the storm had deposited in the chimney. The resulting fire damaged one panel of the stained glass window. In a way the 1989 disasters proved to be beneficial. They forced a complete refurbishing of the sanctuary and permitted restoration of the original elliptical ceiling. The lighting and the public address systems were modernized and the fire sprinkler and heating systems were secured. The Education Building accommodated worship services during the year the sanctuary was out of service. In turn, the Education building was improved through the repair and upgrading of Fellowship Hall, the kitchen, classrooms, offices, and storage areas.

The tablets similar to tombstones on the interior walls of the sanctuary are memorials to various pastors and members. The memorial to Rev. T. Charlton Henry ends with the word ‘triumphant’. Generations of worshippers have at times played the “T-r-i-u-m-p-h-a-n-t Game”- seeing how many words can be formed from the letters in the word. The Reverend Andrew Flinn, the first pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, and the Reverend Henry are interred beneath marble stones in the center aisle. In the peaceful old cemetery lie many of the founders and early members of this church. Family names recorded on gravestones are found on today’s church roll.