Entry No. 35 — the Charleston file — filed under: historic
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
Built between 1745 and 1753 as Prince William's Parish Church, this historic structure is one of the earliest American examples of Greek Revival architecture. It was burned by the British during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt in 1826, and gutted again during the Civil War. Today, its towering brick columns, thick Flemish bond walls, and historic graves remain standing, beautifully framed by moss-draped live oaks.
The story
Prince William's Parish Church was constructed between 1745 and 1753 under the oversight of Lieutenant Governor William Bull, whose neighboring Newberry Plantation provided the local moniker 'Sheldon' after his family's English estate. Built with three-and-a-half-foot-thick Flemish bond brick walls and massive Tuscan portico columns, it stands as America's earliest deliberate attempt to imitate a classical Greek temple in church architecture. Lieutenant Governor Bull himself was buried right inside the building's footprint, anchoring the site before it ever saw a flame.
The ruins earned their reputation through an unusual persistence for surviving destruction. British troops under General Augustine Prévost torched the church in 1779 during the Revolutionary War, leaving only the brick shell. The parish rebuilt the interior and roof in 1826, only to face the Union Army in February 1865. While official Civil War reports claimed General Sherman's troops burned the church to the ground a second time, historical letters written in February 1866 tell a grittier story: the building was actually gutted by local residents who stripped the interior timber and iron to rebuild homes destroyed by the war.
What remains today off Old Sheldon Church Road is a roofless brick shell surrounded by 18th-century headstones and moss-draped live oaks. Owned and managed by the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort, the site saw decades of unrestrained foot traffic—until tourists began chipping off historic bricks for souvenirs and scratching graffiti into two-century-old mortar. In 2019, the parish installed a four-foot black metal fence around the entire perimeter, putting an end to rogue weddings and column-climbing while keeping the view from the oak grove completely clear.
What it's like
Pull into the gravel lot across Old Sheldon Church Road, kill the engine, and cross the asphalt into near-total Lowcountry quiet. The vibe is heavy, shaded, and distinctly gothic, particularly when late-afternoon light filters through the Spanish moss onto the red brick columns. The catch: you won't be walking through the arches. Since 2019, a four-foot black metal fence keeps visitors on the perimeter path to protect the fragile masonry and surrounding headstones. Use the designated lot across the street instead of parking on the narrow road shoulder, bring bug spray for the marsh mosquitoes, and drop by on a weekday morning if you want photographs without a crowd standing in your shot.
The move: Take a scenic drive to the site to stroll around the perimeter, admire the towering brick arches, and photograph the hauntingly beautiful ruins framed by ancient oak trees.
📍 Before you go The ruins are located on private property owned by the Parish Church of St. Helena. A protective fence was installed around the structure in 2019 to prevent vandalism, allowing visitors to view and photograph the ruins from the perimeter but not walk inside the arches.
- 📍 Yemassee
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Old Sheldon Church Rd, Yemassee, SC 29945, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Saint Helena Parish Chapel of Ease Ruins — Double down on Lowcountry church ruins by driving 20 miles south to this 1740s tabby chapel built from oyster shells for distant island planters.
- Edisto Island Serpentarium — Trade quiet 18th-century brickwork for living Lowcountry reptiles at this outdoor, low-walled serpentarium about 30 miles east.
- St. George's Bell Tower — Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site — Continue your survey of surviving colonial masonry with this standalone 1751 brick bell tower standing along the Ashley River.
Good to know
Can you walk through the brick arches or inside the ruins?
No. In 2019, the Parish Church of St. Helena installed a four-foot protective fence around the perimeter to prevent vandalism, brick theft, and wear on the historic structure. Visitors can view and photograph the ruins from outside the fence.
Was Old Sheldon Church actually burned down twice?
It was torched by British troops in 1779 and rebuilt in 1826. While popular tradition blames General Sherman's troops for burning it again in 1865, a letter written in 1866 by Milton Leverett suggests the interior was actually gutted by local residents salvaging materials to rebuild their homes after the Civil War.
Where should visitors park, and is there an entry fee?
There is no admission fee to view the ruins. Parking is available in a designated gravel lot across Old Sheldon Church Road from the site.
How should I verify access before traveling to the site?
Because the property is private land owned and managed by the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort, access rules can shift. Check with the parish or local Beaufort tourism updates before driving out to Yemassee.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · scpictureproject.org · southcarolinalowcountry.com · postandcourier.com
last checked: 2026-07-20