5 Most Beautiful Gothic Churches In South Carolina

Hidden in South Carolina, beyond the southern charm, beaches, and coastal cities, lie century-old reminders of the true art that was Gothic architecture in the form of churches. These churches were constructed during the Gothic Revival period, a time frame where the trademark flying buttresses, pointed arches, and stained-glass windows made a comeback during the second half of the 18th century and 19th century. Many of these churches have stood the test of time, remaining firmly standing through land disasters and even burnings, waiting for visitors to gaze upon their architectural beauty.

French Huguenot Church (Charleston)

This church was first dedicated in 1845 in the city of Charleston and was actually the third church built on the site. The original church was built in 1687 but burned in a fire over a century later, in 1796. The second structure did not stand for nearly as long, built in 1800 and closing down in 1823 due to low congregation members. The final church, which can be seen today, has proved far more resilient, surviving through the ebbs and flows of member numbers, damage from shellfire during the Civil War in 1865, and even the 1886 Charleston earthquake.

One of the most distinctive features of this Gothic-style church is the pipe organ, which is built to resemble the same style. The shape and features of it are those of a Gothic-style chapel. In 1865, this organ was nearly lost when it was dismantled by Federal soldiers, but this was luckily put to a stop by some members of the congregation who had influential friends.

Another distinctive trait would be that the walls are actually built from locally created brick, instead of the traditional stone walls, which are a trademark of Gothic architecture. Unfortunately, there were no native stones to be found for builders along the coast of South Carolina; however, the architects took great care in using methods to make the brick appear stone-like. Keeping this in mind, the pinnacles, which are traditionally made of stone, are actually cast iron.

Grace Church Cathedral (Charleston)

A second Gothic-style church worth visiting in the town of Charleston is the Grace Church Cathedral, which was originally completed in 1848 to serve the Episcopal community. An interesting fact here is that the plans for the building originally did not include a steeple. The steeple was added in after for an additional $3,000, which is equivalent to the purchasing power of over $120,000 in 2025 — an astronomical sum when considering that the town already boasted four other churches, the Grace Church becoming the fifth.

This breathtaking church has been through many repairs, nearly being completely demolished in the earthquake in 1886. Only one person believed that the church could be saved in spite of the government's recommendations of giving up hope for repair. Due to his unwavering faith, he was actually hired to manage the repairs to the church, a touching detail.

At the Grace Church Cathedral, one of the most distinctive features is the huge window overlooking the entryway, which shows Christ training his followers. This one window took over 10,000 pieces of glass to create, an impressive attribute. This church, similar to the French Huguenot Church, was built from local bricks, which were processed with stucco to give it a more stone-like appearance. There are geometric design details found on the pinnacles and the pointed arch windows, which are commonplace in Gothic-style buildings.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

Found in the city of Columbia, the first form of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral was a simple wooden structure built in 1814, while the current version began construction several decades later in 1845. At its founding point, the church only had a congregation of 25, though today, this has grown to more than 3,500 members. The church is considered to be one of the oldest instances of Gothic revival architecture in South Carolina, though it narrowly escaped the burning of Columbia in 1865, using to quick thinking. The congregation used papier-mache crosses to disguise the church as roman catholic, hoping Gen. William T. Sherman would spare it if it embodied his own religion.

Built in the Gothic revival style, two beautifully detailed towers with eight pinnacles on top rest at the front of the church, along with arched doors created from oak. Stained-glass windows are featured throughout, many of them imported from Munich in the 1860s. The architect Edward Brickell White’s main goal was to model this church after the York Minster in York, England. Some of the other features to see here are plastered buff stucco on the brick walls and shouldered buttresses found on both the towers and walls.

Christ Church Episcopal (Greenville)

Known for being Greenville’s oldest church building, Christ Church was originally built in 1825 and consisted of only a couple of local families. By 1845, the congregation had expanded enough to warrant the church being rebuilt, and an additional courtyard was added to the building. The original name of the church was St. James Mission of the Episcopal church, with the name changing years later when it was initiated into the diocese of South Carolina.

Although the first plans had the intention of making the church entirely true to Gothic architecture, the church was unable to afford the costs associated with this venture. Though not completely true to form, the church still displays many Gothic-style features, including a generously sized nave and stained-glass windows, and even a brick bell tower. Though the church has undergone additions in the years since it was expanded, it is still considered a fabulous example of Gothic style architecture.

The Church of the Cross (Bluffton)

In 1842, the nearby Chapel of the Cross was built in Bluffton, close to where the Church of the Cross now stands today. In 1854, the current church was built, with plans to hold 500 people at a minimum. Due to cost constraints, many features of the original plans were never built, including a vestibule and towers. However, in 1857, the church was completed, and parish members were able to start worshipping within its newly built walls.

One of the most distinctive features of this church is that it is built of longleaf heart pine. Certainly not the typical sandstone or limestone of the typical Gothic architecture buildings, but a choice that fits within the limited budget. At this church, latticed shutters, exposed timbers, traditional Gothic-style pointed arch windows and doors, and glass with a pink tint imported from England. The style of using wood in conjunction with the Gothic style of architecture has become so popular for its uniqueness, it has actually become known as Carpenter Gothic.

Many of the churches listed have inspiring backstories, which only further enhance the breathtaking quality of the building. It's inspiring how, even when architects did not have access to common features or were forced to operate within limited budgets, they still managed to find innovative ways around these issues, embodying the Gothic style in spite of this. When viewing these churches, it sparks to mind not only this, but the processes they had to use back during this time period to build these features, truly providing an extraordinary experience.