Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record
Pg 1

Church of St. John-in-the-Wilderness
Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina

Photographs, Written Historical and Descriptive DATA District of North Carolina

Historic American Buildings Survey, Prepared at Headquarters Office for M.R. March, District Officer.

pg 2

Church of St. John in the Wilderness
North Carolina Highway #69
Flat Rock, Henderston County, North Carolina

Owner: Episcopal Church
Date of Erection: 1834
Architect: not given
Builder: not given
Present Condition: Good
Member of ___: no
Materials of Construction: Brick
Other Existing Vessels: See Text
Addiotnal Data: See following pages

Pg 3

St. John in the Wilderness, at Flat Rock, was built in 1834 by Charles Baring andhis wife, who had come to Flat Rock in 1820 from Charleston. Baring, a native of Exetor, England, and a member of the banking firm of Baring Brothers, London, built among other things in Flat Rock, what is now the summer home of George J. Baldwin, of Savannah, and also the Furmer Hotel. Both of the Barings are buried under the floor of the church, and tablets have been erected to their memory in the church. (Ref. Arthur, J.P. - History of Western North Carolina, 1914, pages 493-494)

On August 28, 1836, the Church was constructed by the Rt. Rev. L. S. Ives, Bishop of North Carolina. About 1852 it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. The present structure stands as it was built at the time with the minor addition of a small organ wing in recent years. (Ref. - Tablet on gate and cornerstone above doorway. mr. J.S. Jones of Flat Rock, who cares for the church, was the source of much of this information).

The church is not nested and is used only in the summer season by the residents of Flat Rock, wo are made up mostly of Charleston and South Carolina People.

On the west and south sides of the church are burial grounds where many prominent Charleston families have buried their deceased. Here may be seen the names of Rutledges, Lowndoses, Ravenslt, Pinckneys, Eagers and many others.

The structure itself is of brick - the tower walls being covered with stucco. Wood shingles cover the roof. The church is in excellent condition and contains some very interesting wood trusses.
Author: Stewart Rogers.

Histori American Buildings Survey Card

Supplemental Pages
State: North Carolina; County: Henderson; Town: Flat Rock (NC Highway 69); Monument: Church of St. John-in-the-Wilderness.
Index Number: VC: 45-FLARO-1
History: Built in 1834 by C.S. Baring; Consecrated by the Rt. Rev. L.S. Ives, Bishop of N.C. (Aug. 28, 1836); Rebuilt in 1852.
Description: Brick and stucco on brick; Gabled shingle roof; 1 story; no chimneys.
References: Arthur, John P. - Hisotry of Western North Carolina 1914 pg 493-494.
Additonal Notes: Oldest Church of its denomination (Episcopal) in North Carolina.
Author of Card: Stewart Rogers, May 1, 1934.
(Source: The Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record, Image: The Library of Congress, Photographer, Stewart Rogers, 1934)