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Strawberry
Chapel
CHILDSBURY
We find in Dalcho's History of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in South Carolina that, "An Act was passed
December 9, 1725, 'for founding and establishing a Parochial
Chapel of Ease at Childsbury, to the Parish Church in St.
John's Parish'."
Strawberry Chapel stands in one of the
most typical spots of the Carolina Low Country. The huge live
oaks surrounding the low stone building hang with Spanish
moss. The stillness of the lowlands can be felt. Only the
sounds from the birds and insects can be heard.
This
little chapel was built as a "chapel of ease" for Biggin
Church, for the convenience of people living at a distance
from the parish church. It had parochial rights of baptizing
and burying, but had neither rectory nor
endowment. All high festivals were held in the
parish church.
The interior is unchanged and has the
conventional simplicity of the times.
Hundreds of people
gather here each spring for a memorial service.
BY
HAZEL CROWSON SELLERS
South Carolina Churches
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