Name/Title
91 Anson Street (St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church)Entry/Object ID
ANSON.091.001Scope and Content
Church constructed 1850 with alterations in 1887; rectory and school constructed ca. 1850, 1887; garden established 1991. Possessing a most diverse history, the Gothic Revival church on this site has served enslaved and free Black Presbyterians, Irish Catholics, and, more recently, African American Reformed Episcopalians. The Presbyterians constructed the building as the Anson Street Chapel for Black members who later moved to Calhoun Street. A rectory was established in the older single house next door. The church building was heavily damaged by shells in the siege of Charleston. Initially repaired in 1866, the chancel, roof, and interior were rebuilt in 1883 with the addition of transepts, a Gothic ceiling, and 14 stained glass windows. The board and batten school building next door was completed by 1887. The Diocese closed the church in 1965. Six years later the St. John's Reformed congregation acquired the property and occupies it now. The St. John's congregation has retained most of the structure's interior features, including stenciled decoration and gilded Gothic elements. The grounds of the church were dedicated in 1991 as a commemorative landscaped garden in honor of Philip Simmons, renowned ironworker. A "Heart Gate" designed by Simmons marks the entry to the space (Poston, Buildings of Charleston).
File contains brief narrative history of the church (probably FOHG, undated); Philip Simmons Garden brochure.Collection
Historic Charleston Foundation Property RecordsAcquisition
Accession
ANSON.091.Source or Donor
91 Anson Street (St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church)Acquisition Method
Collected by StaffLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Commemorations, GatesSearch Terms
Anson Street, Ansonborough, Philip Simmons ironwork, Historic buildings--South Carolina--Charleston, Church buildingsArchive Details
Archive Size/Extent
1 File FolderArchive Notes
Finding Aids: Index to Property Files.
Level of Description: FolderLocation
Location
Shelf
Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Notes
PF Box 8Location
Container
PF Box 5Shelf
Prop File Shelves, Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentRelationships
Related Entries
Notes
ANSON.091.002, ANSON.091.003
Related Units of Description: See also "Ansonborough" document box, Preservation Topics shelves.Related Publications
Notes
Buildings of Charleston (see Abstract), pg. 425-426 (89-93 Anson Street).Interpretative Labels
Label Type
Online CatalogLabel
Church constructed 1850 with alterations in 1887; rectory and school constructed ca. 1850, 1887; garden established 1991. Possessing a most diverse history, the Gothic Revival church on this site has served enslaved and free Black Presbyterians, Irish Catholics, and, more recently, African American Reformed Episcopalians. The Presbyterians constructed the building as the Anson Street Chapel for Black members who later moved to Calhoun Street. A rectory was established in the older single house next door. The church building was heavily damaged by shells in the siege of Charleston. Initially repaired in 1866, the chancel, roof, and interior were rebuilt in 1883 with the addition of transepts, a Gothic ceiling, and 14 stained glass windows. The board and batten school building next door was completed by 1887. The Diocese closed the church in 1965. Six years later the St. John's Reformed congregation acquired the property and occupies it now. The St. John's congregation has retained most of the structure's interior features, including stenciled decoration and gilded Gothic elements. The grounds of the church were dedicated in 1991 as a commemorative landscaped garden in honor of Philip Simmons, renowned ironworker. A "Heart Gate" designed by Simmons marks the entry to the space (Poston, Buildings of Charleston).
File contains brief narrative history of the church (probably FOHG, undated); Philip Simmons Garden brochure.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
June 28, 2005Updated By
sferguson@historiccharleston.orgUpdate Date
August 8, 2023