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Survey of
Historic Sites and Buildings

	ST. MICHAEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH South Carolina
Location: 80 Meeting Street, Charleston. St. Michael's Church

Ownership and Administration (1961). St. Michael's Church Corporation, Charleston.

Significance. Called by Hugh Morrison "one of the great Georgian churches of the Colonies," [71] St. Michael's provides an outstanding illustration of the advance of wealth and culture in South Carolina during the first half of the 18th century. The colonial assembly authorized construction of the edifice in 1751 but, although it was virtually completed within 2 years, it was not dedicated until 1761. The architect is not known, although it may have been the noted Peter Harrison.

St. Michael's Episcopal Church of Charleston, S.C., is noted for its early giant portico and unusually solid spire. (National Park Service)

Present appearance. The stucco-covered building is of brick, furnished by Zachariah Villeponteux, who was noted for the quality of his product. The exterior features a two-story Roman Doric portico, the first giant portico built on a Georgian church in the colonies, and an unusually solid spire. The latter rises from a square base in a series of diminishing octagons to a terminal spire, the top of which is 185 feet above the street. The interior is marked by a coved ceiling and low side galleries supported by fluted Ionic columns. Waxed and polished cedar woodwork adds to the beauty of the interior. [72]