Stateburg in Sumter County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Church of the Holy Cross

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011

1. Church of the Holy Cross Marker

Inscription. The National Register
of Historic Places
South Carolina
Department of Archives
And History
Church Of The
Holy Cross

Erected 1973. (Marker Number 73001732.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion.

Location. 33° 57.198′ N, 80° 31.939′ W. Marker is in Stateburg, South Carolina, in Sumter County. Marker is on North Kings Highway (State Highway 261), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 335 North Kings Highway, Sumter SC 29154, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Church of the Holy Cross Stateburg / Holy Cross Churchyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Church of the Holy Cross (within shouting distance of this marker); Joel Roberts Poinsett (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Stateburg (approx. 0.4 miles away); Early Charleston Road (approx. 0.7 miles away); William Tennent (approx. 0.8 miles away); Battle of Beech Creek / The Civil War Ends In S.C (approx. 1.4 miles away); High Hills Baptist Church (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stateburg.

Regarding Church of the Holy Cross.

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Built in 1850, Holy Cross is of Gothic Revival design and is constructed of yellow pise de terre (rammed earth). Walls constructed of pise de terre (minimum depth of 13 inches) are almost impervious to earthquakes. Edward C. Jones of Charleston, designer of Holy Cross, was one of the best known South Carolina architects of the antebellum era. The cruciform Holy Cross is considered one of Jones’s most unusual designs. It resembles an Old World Parish Church. The high-pitched roof is of red tile. The interior features Bohemian stained glass windows designed by Violett de Duc and a rare Henry Irwin organ. Holy Cross is significant in that it, along with various other structures in Stateburg, comprises the largest complex of pise de terre buildings in the United States. Buried in the graveyard of Holy Cross is Joel R. Poinsett, a U.S. Congressman, Minister to Mexico, Secretary of War, and first president of the forerunner of the Smithsonian Institution, who is best remembered for bringing the poinsettia flower to this country from Mexico. Listed in the National Register November 7, 1973; Designated a National Historic Landmark November 7, 1973. ( S.C. Dept. of Archives and History )

National Register of Historic Places:
Holy Cross Episcopal Church *** (added 1973 - - #73001732)
Also known as Church of the Holy Cross
♦ Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering

Church of the Holy Cross Marker at left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011

2. Church of the Holy Cross Marker at left

♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown
♦ Architectural Style: Gothic Revival
♦ Area of Significance: Architecture
♦ Period of Significance: 1850-1874
♦ Owner: Private
♦ Historic Function: Religion
♦ Historic Sub-function: Religious Structure
♦ Current Function: Religion
♦ Current Sub-function: Religious Structure

Additional commentary.
1. Church of the Holy Cross
began as a chapel of ease to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Clarendon County. In 1788, it was granted a
charter as the Episcopal Church of Claremont. On September 11, 1850, the cornerstone of the present church was laid on the site of the old church and the name changed to the Church Of The Holy Cross. The church is an unusually lovely mid-nineteenth century structure of pise de terre (rammed earth) built in a simple but highly refined gothic revival style by the architect Edward C. Jones, Charleston, S.C.

— Submitted July 6, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

Church of the Holy Cross image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011

3. Church of the Holy Cross

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011

4. Church of the Holy Cross

Church of the Holy Cross Parish House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011

5. Church of the Holy Cross Parish House

Church of the Holy Cross Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011

6. Church of the Holy Cross Cemetery

Church of the Holy Cross Stateburg West (front) Facade image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey, Jack E. Boucher, 1985

7. Church of the Holy Cross Stateburg West (front) Facade

Historic American Engineering Record,HABS SC,43-STATBU.V,1-22

S.C. Dept. of Archives and History, circa 1973

8. Church of the Holy Cross

Church of the Holy Cross Stateburg General view of the pipe organ image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey, Jack E. Boucher, 1985

9. Church of the Holy Cross Stateburg General view of the pipe organ

Historic American Engineering Record, HABS SC,43-STATBU.V,1-85

Church of the Holy Cross Original (1851) Stained Glass Window in Chancel, from Church Interior image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey, Jack E. Boucher, circa 1985

10. Church of the Holy Cross Original (1851) Stained Glass Window in Chancel, from Church Interior

Historic American Engineering Record, HABS SC,43-STATBU.V,1-81

Church of the Holy Cross Stateburg Detail of the pulpit image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey, Jack E. Boucher, circa 1985

11. Church of the Holy Cross Stateburg Detail of the pulpit

Historic American Engineering Record, HABS SC,43-STATBU.V,1-90

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 712 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 6, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 8. submitted on February 3, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 9, 10, 11. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.