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422:-type building 88 feet (27 m) in diameter with seven great doors and 26 windows. On its main floor and in the gallery it was said to accommodate 2,000 worshippers. The first major domed building in North America, it was described by one observer in 1818 as "the most extraordinary building in the United States." However, people made fun of the fact that the church lacked a steeple and for years laughed at the rhyme:
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The earliest records of the church were lost when a hurricane swept them from the manse, located at White Point (the
Battery), in 1713. During the colonial period, this unusual church had no official name but "suffered itself to be called either Presbyterian, Congregational, or Independent: sometimes
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and then to
Philadelphia. Their families were left destitute. The Meeting House, vacant since the cannonball episode, was used as a British hospital and/or a warehouse, with the pews destroyed and the building suffering other damage. Tennent had died in 1777, and the church went without a minister
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Circular Church is aware of the needs of people on the margins of society. The church has founded the city's first marriage and family counseling center, Charleston's crisis intervention service (Hotline), Hospice of
Charleston, and the Elder Shelter. Space and leadership have been provided to the
389:
In 1782, the church-in-exile held a congregational meeting in
Philadelphia where they made arrangements to call a minister to Charleston "as soon as may be feasible." Members remaining in Charleston began the week of British evacuation to rebuild the Meeting House. By 1787, the congregation had
329:
The congregation was co-founded with
Charles Towne, 1680–1685, by the English Congregationalists, Scots Presbyterians, and French Huguenots of the original settlement. These "dissenters" erected a Meeting House in the northwest corner of the walled city. The present sanctuary occupies that exact
511:
The congregation, international and multiracial, has been served for 15 years by part-time clergy, a reminder to the congregation that every member is called to priesthood and ministry. Visitors are welcome both to explore the grounds and to explore the faith in worship, ministry, and life in
342:
with a stricter
Presbyterian government and doctrine. While many Presbyterians remained, the policy of this church "was not so much to define exactly a particular mode of their discipline, and to bind their hands up to any one stiff form adopted either by Presbyterians, Congregationalists, or
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During the "glory days" of 1820–1860, Circular Church had a large congregation of white and black members. The first Sunday School for religious education in South
Carolina was started here in 1816, and members founded the Charleston Bible Society, a prototype to the later
532:. The original sanctuary was designed by Robert Mills. The current church is not circular but of a modified cloverleaf design and continues to be known as the Circular Church. The parish house, with twin stairways and wrought iron railings, was declared a
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built a second meeting house on
Archdale Street to accommodate their growing number. For 25 years, Drs. Hollinshead and Keith, co-pastors of the church, preached one sermon in both houses each Sunday, alternating morning and afternoon services.
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354:(1772–1777), were frequently heard speaking for political and religious freedom. Tennent took his life in his hands when he made a wide tour of the Carolina back-country in 1775 to gain subscribers for the cause of independence.
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by one of the names, sometimes by two of them, and at other times by all three. We do not find that this church is either
Presbyterian, Congregational, or Independent, but somewhat distinct and singular from them all."
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457:, and many others whose voices made Charleston eloquent and who extended the influence of their church far beyond its walls. It also included many slaves and poor whose names were unknown to anyone beyond its walls.
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Many of the early ministers hailed from
Scotland, England, Wales, and New England. The "old White Meeting House" was enlarged in 1732, only a year after 12 Scots families moved down the street to start the
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Independents, as to be upon a broad dissenting bottom, and to leave ourselves as free as possible from any foreign shackles, that no moderate persons of either denomination might be afraid to join them. "
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It remains undocumented which part was declared to be an NHL vs. which is NRHP. The NRHP Inventory/Nomination document is not sufficient. Note, NRHP and NHL designation happened on same date.
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The people of Circular Church, as it was now popularly called, stopped the laughter in 1838 by raising a New England–style steeple that towered 182 feet (55 m) above Meeting Street.
369:(1813–1835). Noteworthy is the fact that Palmer was a special son of this church, born in Philadelphia just two weeks after his parents had been driven into exile there in 1781.
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504:, that God is a living Presence but not a dominating man in the sky, that Jesus is a person of the Spirit and of saving wisdom but not a sacrifice to an offended God.
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350:) with contempt, the church became a greenhouse for revolutionary sentiment in the colony. Prominent members of the Meeting House, and its distinguished minister,
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in 1780. When the British occupied the city, the church was bitterly rewarded for its love of freedom by the illegal exile of 38 heads of families to prisons in
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Charleston Interfaith Crisis Ministry, Amnesty International, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Charleston PEACE, and other community organizations.
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in 1968. It is one of the few congregation in the South that expresses its ecumenical commitment by belonging to two denominations. The church follows
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472:. In January 1888, the congregation began the process of removing the materials from the old church. The a new sanctuary was completed in 1890.
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The ruins of the Circular Church in 1865 still showed the clear circular layout of the building designed by Robert Mills
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The Archdale Street Meeting House separated in 1817 as the Second Independent Church, and later it adopted the name
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National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: The Circular Congregational Church and Parish House
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soon followed with its devastating effect. The black members of the church withdrew in 1867 to form the
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The walls of the Circular Church were not long to stand. On December 11, 1861, a fire started near the
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site. The street leading to it was called "Meeting House Street," later shortened to Meeting Street.
464:. During the night, the fire swept all the way across the city, destroying the church building. The
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Shaped by its independent mind and goaded by a colonial government that treated "dissenters" (non-
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Circular Congregational Church and Parish House, Charleston County (150 Meeting St., Charleston)
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In 1804, the time had come to replace the Meeting Street house with a more commodious building.
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451:. The membership included two governors of the state, prominent senators, the editor of the
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Ramsay's History of South Carolina: From Its First Settlement in 1670 to the Year 1808
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The current church building dates from 1890 but uses bricks from the earlier church
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Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings, a National Park Service
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National Register of Historic Places listings in Charleston, South Carolina
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The steeple of Mills' design is seen in this June 1857 image from Harper's
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292:, used by a congregation established in 1681. Its parish house, the
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National Register of Historic Places in Charleston, South Carolina
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695:"Hallowed Ground: Circular Congregational Church, Charleston"
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throughout the British occupation until the end of the war.
1345:
Historic district contributing properties in South Carolina
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The portico and steeple base of the Circular Church in 1860
377:
The church was struck by a British cannonball during the
488:(its successor) in 1954, and Atlantic Presbytery of the
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beginning in 1890 (the third on its site), to plans by
414:, Charleston's leading architect who also designed the
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is a historic church building at 150 Meeting Street in
848:, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
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95:
803:
Tray Stephenson and Bernard Kearse (April 26, 1973),
601:
List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
653:"Parish House of the Circular Congregational Church"
418:, completed the plans. The church he designed was a
1274:
History of the National Register of Historic Places
930:
History of the National Register of Historic Places
1310:United Church of Christ churches in South Carolina
500:. Followers believe the Bible is truthful but not
294:Parish House of the Circular Congregational Church
29:Parish House of the Circular Congregational Church
1301:
680:
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361:. The congregation of Circular Church remained
480:The independent or Circular Church joined the
1330:National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
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520:The current church building was built in the
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888:
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817:Accompanying two photos, exterior, undated
657:National Historic Landmark summary listing
365:under the pastoral leadership of the Rev.
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897:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
37:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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397:
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55:U.S. National Historic Landmark District
1315:Presbyterian churches in South Carolina
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659:. National Park Service. Archived from
1325:Churches in Charleston, South Carolina
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861:Circular Congregational Church website
791:Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide
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626:"National Register Information System"
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394:Robert Mills' "Extraordinary" building
1320:1681 establishments in South Carolina
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431:They built a church on Meeting Street
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631:National Register of Historic Places
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490:United Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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76:Parish House of the Circular Church
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433:But could not raise the steeple.
340:First (Scots) Presbyterian Church
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684:Church records, February 5, 1775
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46:U.S. National Historic Landmark
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470:Plymouth Congregational Church
410:proposed a circular form, and
286:Circular Congregational Church
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1:
793:29 March 1890: 444. New York.
772:. January 18, 1888. p. 8
744:Charleston News & Courier
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128:Show map of the United States
854:Discover Our Shared Heritage
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304:and is recognized as a U.S.
230:Charleston Historic District
18:United States historic place
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1256:National Historic Landmarks
770:Charleston News and Courier
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427:Charleston is a pious place
10:
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1335:Churches completed in 1806
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534:National Historic Landmark
482:Congregational Association
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306:National Historic Landmark
296:, is a highly significant
290:Charleston, South Carolina
143:Charleston, South Carolina
103:Show map of South Carolina
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746:. May 30, 1909. p. 9
699:discoversouthcarolina.com
442:From glory to destruction
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766:"Tearing Down the Ruins"
522:Richardsonian Romanesque
498:progressive Christianity
429:And full of pious people
212:Architectural style
812:, National Park Service
526:Stephenson & Greene
486:United Church of Christ
205:Stephenson & Greene
1269:Keeper of the Register
920:Keeper of the Register
722:Ramsay, David (1858).
589:Circular Church (1883)
496:in the radical way of
449:American Bible Society
436:
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367:Benjamin Morgan Palmer
326:
300:architectural work by
275:Designated NHLDCP
1289:Contributing property
935:National Park Service
915:Contributing property
740:"The Circular Church"
636:National Park Service
424:
408:Martha Laurens Ramsay
401:
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170:32.77889°N 79.93111°W
59:Contributing Property
141:150 Meeting Street,
638:. January 23, 2007.
476:Beliefs and service
416:Washington Monument
379:siege of Charleston
267:Designated NHL
189:1870 (parish house)
175:32.77889; -79.93111
166: /
663:on August 28, 2005
466:American Civil War
454:Charleston Courier
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925:Historic district
373:Revolutionary War
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254:Significant dates
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325:Circular Church
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1194:Williamsburg
1034:Chesterfield
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774:. Retrieved
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748:. Retrieved
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702:. Retrieved
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665:. Retrieved
661:the original
656:
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494:Jesus Christ
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462:Cooper River
459:
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412:Robert Mills
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302:Robert Mills
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200:Robert Mills
15:
1244:Other lists
1179:Spartanburg
512:community.
363:trinitarian
173: /
149:Coordinates
1304:Categories
1225:Greenville
1215:Charleston
1159:Orangeburg
1084:Greenville
1079:Georgetown
1059:Dorchester
1049:Darlington
1019:Charleston
776:October 6,
612:References
234:ID66000964
220:Romanesque
161:79°55′52″W
158:32°46′44″N
1235:Rock Hill
1144:McCormick
1129:Lexington
1114:Lancaster
1089:Greenwood
1069:Fairfield
1064:Edgefield
1039:Clarendon
984:Allendale
974:Abbeville
967:by county
667:March 16,
536:in 1973.
516:Buildings
359:Unitarian
348:Anglicans
196:Architect
1220:Columbia
1169:Richland
1149:Newberry
1139:Marlboro
1074:Florence
1044:Colleton
1024:Cherokee
1009:Berkeley
1004:Beaufort
999:Barnwell
989:Anderson
704:March 1,
595:See also
530:New York
420:Pantheon
248:73001683
207:(church)
138:Location
1251:Bridges
1164:Pickens
1119:Laurens
1109:Kershaw
1094:Hampton
1029:Chester
1014:Calhoun
994:Bamberg
750:May 27,
540:Gallery
502:literal
312:History
226:Part of
1184:Sumter
1174:Saluda
1154:Oconee
1134:Marion
1104:Jasper
1054:Dillon
908:Topics
820:
1189:Union
1099:Horry
979:Aiken
965:Lists
810:(pdf)
186:Built
1199:York
814:and
778:2012
752:2013
706:2020
669:2008
284:The
1124:Lee
899:in
528:of
243:No.
1306::
768:.
742:.
714:^
697:.
677:^
655:.
644:^
634:.
628:.
308:.
218:,
889:e
882:t
875:v
780:.
754:.
708:.
671:.
236:)
232:(
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