Visit to an old church

My friends Jim and Pat were kind enough to invite me over to see inside the Little White Church which is a church listed on the National History Register.  It was very unique and so interesting.   Some structural work had been done in the past to level the building and replace rotting boards but the majority of the church is original.  

I love all the windows, some green tinted glass and lots of wavy old glass.  The steps to the slave gallery were very narrow and steep..of course I had to climb those stairs to get a photo looking down on the sanctuary.    The foundation of the church is just layered flat rocks packed with mud.  All the windows, doors, shutters, roof and flooring is original except for what had to be replaced.  They did a good job of blending the new in with the old.   The wood burning stove in the center of the church may not be the original but it is very very old.  The smoke pipe goes straight up to the tiny chimney on the roof..the metal pipe is supported by wires strung across the room about 20 feet up.   The organ is ancient and does not open anymore.   

I found this information about the church. 

The 100 acres was given to the Lutheran congregation back in the 1750s by the King.  

Built in 1809, the two previous churches here were log cabins.
The LIttle White Church may be the oldest framed Lutheran church in South Carolina

Had beaded siding, dentilled cornice (like gingerbread trim)  and a tin roof

Entrance has twin paneled entrance doors, with an arched panel above.

The windows were three tiers of panes and were unusual for the time of construction for rural area churches.

The chancel is semi circular (added around 1892) with 2 gothic type windows.    All the windows have shutters outside still with old type hinges and what looks like handmade latches for holding them back. 

The ceiling is called barrel vaulted and the walls are large boards.  They have found Roman numerals on some of the boards that they assume are markings for what area the boards would be used. 


Next to the church is the cemetery on one side and on the other side is the schoolhouse  which was in use until the mid 1900s.  

They only open this church a couple times of year..usually in the fall for the church homecoming celebration.  There is not electricity and the windows do not open.  So cooler weather is needed in order to sit in the church.   The shutters do open to let in the only light.   

An interesting day!  I love old places.   When I think about building something like this with just the simplest tools ( with pegs for nails or those flat nails)  and no real ladders or ways to get the roof up, it just amazes me.   No wonder things built 200 years ago last a long time!