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433:-type building 88 feet (27 m) in diameter with seven great doors and 26 windows. On its main floor and in the gallery it was said to accommodate 2,000 worshippers. The first major domed building in North America, it was described by one observer in 1818 as "the most extraordinary building in the United States." However, people made fun of the fact that the church lacked a steeple and for years laughed at the rhyme:
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The earliest records of the church were lost when a hurricane swept them from the manse, located at White Point (the
Battery), in 1713. During the colonial period, this unusual church had no official name but "suffered itself to be called either Presbyterian, Congregational, or Independent: sometimes
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and then to
Philadelphia. Their families were left destitute. The Meeting House, vacant since the cannonball episode, was used as a British hospital and/or a warehouse, with the pews destroyed and the building suffering other damage. Tennent had died in 1777, and the church went without a minister
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Circular Church is aware of the needs of people on the margins of society. The church has founded the city's first marriage and family counseling center, Charleston's crisis intervention service (Hotline), Hospice of
Charleston, and the Elder Shelter. Space and leadership have been provided to the
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In 1782, the church-in-exile held a congregational meeting in
Philadelphia where they made arrangements to call a minister to Charleston "as soon as may be feasible." Members remaining in Charleston began the week of British evacuation to rebuild the Meeting House. By 1787, the congregation had
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The congregation was co-founded with
Charles Towne, 1680–1685, by the English Congregationalists, Scots Presbyterians, and French Huguenots of the original settlement. These "dissenters" erected a Meeting House in the northwest corner of the walled city. The present sanctuary occupies that exact
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The congregation, international and multiracial, has been served for 15 years by part-time clergy, a reminder to the congregation that every member is called to priesthood and ministry. Visitors are welcome both to explore the grounds and to explore the faith in worship, ministry, and life in
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with a stricter
Presbyterian government and doctrine. While many Presbyterians remained, the policy of this church "was not so much to define exactly a particular mode of their discipline, and to bind their hands up to any one stiff form adopted either by Presbyterians, Congregationalists, or
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During the "glory days" of 1820–1860, Circular Church had a large congregation of white and black members. The first Sunday School for religious education in South
Carolina was started here in 1816, and members founded the Charleston Bible Society, a prototype to the later
543:. The original sanctuary was designed by Robert Mills. The current church is not circular but of a modified cloverleaf design and continues to be known as the Circular Church. The parish house, with twin stairways and wrought iron railings, was declared a
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built a second meeting house on
Archdale Street to accommodate their growing number. For 25 years, Drs. Hollinshead and Keith, co-pastors of the church, preached one sermon in both houses each Sunday, alternating morning and afternoon services.
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365:(1772–1777), were frequently heard speaking for political and religious freedom. Tennent took his life in his hands when he made a wide tour of the Carolina back-country in 1775 to gain subscribers for the cause of independence.
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by one of the names, sometimes by two of them, and at other times by all three. We do not find that this church is either
Presbyterian, Congregational, or Independent, but somewhat distinct and singular from them all."
468:, and many others whose voices made Charleston eloquent and who extended the influence of their church far beyond its walls. It also included many slaves and poor whose names were unknown to anyone beyond its walls.
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Many of the early ministers hailed from
Scotland, England, Wales, and New England. The "old White Meeting House" was enlarged in 1732, only a year after 12 Scots families moved down the street to start the
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Independents, as to be upon a broad dissenting bottom, and to leave ourselves as free as possible from any foreign shackles, that no moderate persons of either denomination might be afraid to join them. "
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It remains undocumented which part was declared to be an NHL vs. which is NRHP. The NRHP Inventory/Nomination document is not sufficient. Note, NRHP and NHL designation happened on same date.
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The people of Circular Church, as it was now popularly called, stopped the laughter in 1838 by raising a New England–style steeple that towered 182 feet (55 m) above Meeting Street.
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380:(1813–1835). Noteworthy is the fact that Palmer was a special son of this church, born in Philadelphia just two weeks after his parents had been driven into exile there in 1781.
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515:, that God is a living Presence but not a dominating man in the sky, that Jesus is a person of the Spirit and of saving wisdom but not a sacrifice to an offended God.
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361:) with contempt, the church became a greenhouse for revolutionary sentiment in the colony. Prominent members of the Meeting House, and its distinguished minister,
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in 1780. When the British occupied the city, the church was bitterly rewarded for its love of freedom by the illegal exile of 38 heads of families to prisons in
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Charleston Interfaith Crisis Ministry, Amnesty International, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Charleston PEACE, and other community organizations.
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in 1968. It is one of the few congregation in the South that expresses its ecumenical commitment by belonging to two denominations. The church follows
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483:. In January 1888, the congregation began the process of removing the materials from the old church. The a new sanctuary was completed in 1890.
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The ruins of the Circular Church in 1865 still showed the clear circular layout of the building designed by Robert Mills
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The Archdale Street Meeting House separated in 1817 as the Second Independent Church, and later it adopted the name
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National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: The Circular Congregational Church and Parish House
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soon followed with its devastating effect. The black members of the church withdrew in 1867 to form the
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The walls of the Circular Church were not long to stand. On December 11, 1861, a fire started near the
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site. The street leading to it was called "Meeting House Street," later shortened to Meeting Street.
475:. During the night, the fire swept all the way across the city, destroying the church building. The
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Shaped by its independent mind and goaded by a colonial government that treated "dissenters" (non-
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Circular Congregational Church and Parish House, Charleston County (150 Meeting St., Charleston)
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In 1804, the time had come to replace the Meeting Street house with a more commodious building.
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462:. The membership included two governors of the state, prominent senators, the editor of the
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Ramsay's History of South Carolina: From Its First Settlement in 1670 to the Year 1808
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The current church building dates from 1890 but uses bricks from the earlier church
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Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings, a National Park Service
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National Register of Historic Places listings in Charleston, South Carolina
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The steeple of Mills' design is seen in this June 1857 image from Harper's
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303:, used by a congregation established in 1681. Its parish house, the
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National Register of Historic Places in Charleston, South Carolina
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706:"Hallowed Ground: Circular Congregational Church, Charleston"
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throughout the British occupation until the end of the war.
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Historic district contributing properties in South Carolina
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The portico and steeple base of the Circular Church in 1860
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The church was struck by a British cannonball during the
499:(its successor) in 1954, and Atlantic Presbytery of the
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beginning in 1890 (the third on its site), to plans by
425:, Charleston's leading architect who also designed the
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is a historic church building at 150 Meeting Street in
859:, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
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106:
814:
Tray Stephenson and Bernard Kearse (April 26, 1973),
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List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
664:"Parish House of the Circular Congregational Church"
429:, completed the plans. The church he designed was a
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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511:. Followers believe the Bible is truthful but not
305:Parish House of the Circular Congregational Church
40:Parish House of the Circular Congregational Church
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372:. The congregation of Circular Church remained
18:Circular Congregational Church and Parish House
491:The independent or Circular Church joined the
1341:National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
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531:The current church building was built in the
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828:Accompanying two photos, exterior, undated
668:National Historic Landmark summary listing
376:under the pastoral leadership of the Rev.
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908:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
48:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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66:U.S. National Historic Landmark District
1326:Presbyterian churches in South Carolina
670:. National Park Service. Archived from
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1336:Churches in Charleston, South Carolina
872:Circular Congregational Church website
802:Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide
637:"National Register Information System"
405:Robert Mills' "Extraordinary" building
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1331:1681 establishments in South Carolina
442:They built a church on Meeting Street
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642:National Register of Historic Places
501:United Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
87:Parish House of the Circular Church
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444:But could not raise the steeple.
351:First (Scots) Presbyterian Church
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695:Church records, February 5, 1775
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57:U.S. National Historic Landmark
481:Plymouth Congregational Church
421:proposed a circular form, and
297:Circular Congregational Church
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804:29 March 1890: 444. New York.
783:. January 18, 1888. p. 8
755:Charleston News & Courier
139:Show map of the United States
865:Discover Our Shared Heritage
315:and is recognized as a U.S.
241:Charleston Historic District
29:United States historic place
1267:National Historic Landmarks
781:Charleston News and Courier
438:Charleston is a pious place
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1346:Churches completed in 1806
545:National Historic Landmark
493:Congregational Association
317:National Historic Landmark
307:, is a highly significant
301:Charleston, South Carolina
154:Charleston, South Carolina
114:Show map of South Carolina
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757:. May 30, 1909. p. 9
710:discoversouthcarolina.com
453:From glory to destruction
252:NRHP reference
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777:"Tearing Down the Ruins"
533:Richardsonian Romanesque
509:progressive Christianity
440:And full of pious people
223:Architectural style
823:, National Park Service
537:Stephenson & Greene
497:United Church of Christ
216:Stephenson & Greene
1280:Keeper of the Register
931:Keeper of the Register
733:Ramsay, David (1858).
600:Circular Church (1883)
507:in the radical way of
460:American Bible Society
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378:Benjamin Morgan Palmer
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311:architectural work by
286:Designated NHLDCP
1300:Contributing property
946:National Park Service
926:Contributing property
751:"The Circular Church"
647:National Park Service
419:Martha Laurens Ramsay
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181:32.77889°N 79.93111°W
70:Contributing Property
152:150 Meeting Street,
649:. January 23, 2007.
487:Beliefs and service
427:Washington Monument
390:siege of Charleston
278:Designated NHL
200:1870 (parish house)
186:32.77889; -79.93111
177: /
674:on August 28, 2005
477:American Civil War
465:Charleston Courier
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1295:Historic district
936:Historic district
384:Revolutionary War
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265:Significant dates
16:(Redirected from
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1045:Chesterfield
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785:. Retrieved
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713:. Retrieved
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676:. Retrieved
672:the original
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505:Jesus Christ
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473:Cooper River
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313:Robert Mills
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211:Robert Mills
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1255:Other lists
1190:Spartanburg
523:community.
374:trinitarian
184: /
160:Coordinates
1315:Categories
1236:Greenville
1226:Charleston
1170:Orangeburg
1095:Greenville
1090:Georgetown
1070:Dorchester
1060:Darlington
1030:Charleston
787:October 6,
623:References
245:ID66000964
231:Romanesque
172:79°55′52″W
169:32°46′44″N
1246:Rock Hill
1155:McCormick
1140:Lexington
1125:Lancaster
1100:Greenwood
1080:Fairfield
1075:Edgefield
1050:Clarendon
995:Allendale
985:Abbeville
978:by county
678:March 16,
547:in 1973.
527:Buildings
370:Unitarian
359:Anglicans
207:Architect
1231:Columbia
1180:Richland
1160:Newberry
1150:Marlboro
1085:Florence
1055:Colleton
1035:Cherokee
1020:Berkeley
1015:Beaufort
1010:Barnwell
1000:Anderson
715:March 1,
606:See also
541:New York
431:Pantheon
259:73001683
218:(church)
149:Location
1262:Bridges
1175:Pickens
1130:Laurens
1120:Kershaw
1105:Hampton
1040:Chester
1025:Calhoun
1005:Bamberg
761:May 27,
551:Gallery
513:literal
323:History
237:Part of
1195:Sumter
1185:Saluda
1165:Oconee
1145:Marion
1115:Jasper
1065:Dillon
919:Topics
831:
1200:Union
1110:Horry
990:Aiken
976:Lists
821:(pdf)
197:Built
1210:York
825:and
789:2012
763:2013
717:2020
680:2008
295:The
1135:Lee
910:in
539:of
254:No.
1317::
779:.
753:.
725:^
708:.
688:^
666:.
655:^
645:.
639:.
319:.
229:,
900:e
893:t
886:v
791:.
765:.
719:.
682:.
247:)
243:(
20:)
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