60 Wentworth Street
City Directories and History: CENTENARY METHODIST CHURCH Constructed 1841-42; renovated 1911,1953 Edward Bricked White, architect
“Edward B. White designed one of Charleston’s most chaste Greek Revival buildings for the congregation of Second Baptist Church in 1841-42. Some believe that the giant-order portico exemplifies the challenge to White to compete with the K. K. Beth Elohim Synagogue one block to the south. Lamenting the placement of the doors insisted upon by the building committee, an anonymous critic wrote an essay in the newspaper pointing out its “flawed” design, and a response by the architect indicated his own lament as well. At war’s end the Wentworth Street congregation merged with Citadel Square Baptist and endeavored to sell their church buildings.
Contemporaneously, black members of Trinity Methodist Church left that congregation when offered membership after the war on the condition that they continue to worship in the gallery. After starting a church under the leadership of a New England minister and beginning services at Avery Normal Institute, the leaders negotiated to purchase the Wentworth Street building for $20,000. The requirement that the funds be paid in gold by a specified date nearly ended the transaction, but the congregation was aided in securing the gold by a Trinity member and the wealthy Charleston banker George W. Williams. The church was extensively repaired after the hurricane of 1911 and renovated in 1953. Its congregation has included some of Charleston’s most important African Americans, including the late civil rights leader Septima Poinsett Clark.”
Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
*** See PDF this page on the connection between the NY Ecc. Society and the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina – Printed in the S.C. Messenger in Nov. 1848.
Access information on numerous Charleston County and South Carolina churches, by clicking the highlighted S.C. Digital Library name.
Other sources of interest: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61 and the Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917 The HCF may also have additional data at: Past Perfect and further research can be uncovered at: Charleston 1861 Census Schedule or The Charleston City Guide of 1872
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!