Entry No. 38 — the Savannah file — filed under: historic
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
Originally built in the mid-18th century as Prince William's Parish Church, this Greek Revival-style sanctuary was burned by the British during the Revolutionary War and rebuilt, only to be gutted or burned again during the Civil War. Today, its majestic brick walls, towering columns, and historic graves remain nestled among moss-draped live oaks. A protective fence now surrounds the structure to prevent vandalism, but visitors can still admire its haunting beauty from the grounds.
The story
Some sites are simply cursed by timing. Constructed between 1745 and 1753 as Prince William's Parish Church, this brick Greek Revival sanctuary barely made it twenty-six years before British soldiers torched it in 1779 during the Revolutionary War. The parish waited until 1826 to rebuild the fallen walls, only to watch the sanctuary get gutted and burned to the ground a second time during the Civil War.
What sits discreetly off Highway 17 in Yemassee today is a hollow brick skeleton anchored by massive Greek Revival columns, framed by live oaks and trailing Spanish moss. The roof dissolved over a century ago, leaving an open-sky nave surrounded by 18th- and 19th-century headstones rising out of the root-choked dirt.
What it's like
Pulling off Old Sheldon Church Road into the tree line brings instant shade and quiet Lowcountry air. The catch is that you can no longer walk directly through the colonnade or touch the altar. In 2019, the Parish Church of St. Helena erected a protective metal fence surrounding the ruined walls to end decades of vandalism and protect the fragile 250-year-old masonry. You will be viewing the interior through iron bars, but the surrounding cemetery grounds remain open so you can walk the perimeter and photograph the columned facade under the oak canopy.
The move: Take a scenic drive to the site to photograph the towering brick columns and stroll through the surrounding historic cemetery under the shade of Spanish moss.
📍 Before you go The ruins are enclosed by a protective metal fence erected in 2019 by the Parish Church of St. Helena to prevent vandalism and preserve the fragile brickwork, though the surrounding grounds remain open to the public.
- 📍 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 — Pair one burned 18th-century parish church with another by driving 20 miles east to inspect an isolated sanctuary built from oyster-shell tabby.
- Highway 21 Drive-In — Follow up an afternoon exploring historic brick ruins with an outdoor double feature at a retro three-screen drive-in 13 miles away.
- Stoney Baynard Ruins — Extend your Lowcountry ruins circuit by heading south to Hilton Head to see what remains of a 1790s plantation mansion.
Good to know
Can you walk inside the church ruins?
No. The Parish Church of St. Helena installed a protective metal fence around the brick ruins in 2019 to prevent vandalism and preserve the crumbling masonry, though the outer grounds and cemetery remain accessible.
Why was the church burned twice?
British forces burned the original 1753 structure in 1779 during the Revolutionary War. After being rebuilt in 1826, the church was gutted and burned again during the Civil War.
Is there an admission fee to view the site?
There is no fee to view the ruins from the open grounds, though you should verify current access before taking the drive out to Yemassee.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: scpictureproject.org · southcarolinalowcountry.com · Facebook
last checked: 2026-07-20