St. Philip's Church

St. Philip's Church wears a tall, white steeple that serves as a landmark for mariners navigating the Charleston harbor. When the current building rose in the eighteen thirties, the vestry insisted on a design that mirrored the grandeur of London churches. Architect Joseph Hyde placed the portico directly on the sidewalk to face the street. Inside, parishioners like John C. Calhoun held pews, and the graveyard holds the remains of figures including Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.