Never has a street been more aptly named. There was one wonderful church after another. The title photograph is of the French Huguenot Church – it is simply known as that. I noticed it particularly because it is painted a delicate pale pink with black cornichons. The Huguenot’s were French Protestants who escaped persecution from the Catholic Church. I loved the way they embraced the Protestant ethic and yet created a house of worship with a certain French soupçon of elegance. Below is the exquisitely simple interior with a startling blue chandelier, accentuated with the blue prayer books.
Above is St Philip’s Episcopal Church which is the grandest on the street. Another tourist later told me that the church keepers weren’t very friendly (well, they are Protestants – I am sorry but there is always a lapsed Catholic devil sitting on my shoulder). There is always a fine line between visiting a historic site and respecting that it is a current house of worship. No talking, flip-flops or chewing gum, please! There were some very distinguished guests in the graveyard and it was so serene on a hot, steamy Charleston afternoon.
It was only after I left Charleston that I remembered about the Charleston Church massacre more than a year before, at the Emanuel African Methodist Church. The victims of this hate crime, their relatives and the people of Charleston give us something to aspire to in this horrific week. Dignity, sorrow and forgiveness.
Amazing photos. The chandelier in the church was spectacular. Thanks for sharing this. I hope you and yours are well.
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Thank you so much. It was quite startling in color – almost indigo. We are well, hope you all are too.
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Yes we are. Thanks
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Beautiful photos, Kerry! I’d love to visit this place myself.
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Thank you, Magarisa. It is truly a beautiful city with a charming old world feel.
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There he is chimping all over the place lol Beautiful photos
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I love all creatures, great and small… 🙂
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LOL Chimping is the Lonely author blog 🙂
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I know – I thought I was being funny! 🙂
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You were but I wasn’t sure. lol
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😉
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We were in Charleston last Fall after the Church shooting. As we rode by the Emanuel African Methodist church, I thought how horrific for those people to die in a place they felt was a sanctuary. And now – how horrific for those they left behind to deal with it all. I so admire how this congregation handled and continues to handle the evil in the world and how it can invade our lives in a moment’s time. They have not faltered in their efforts to make sure this evil did not define who they were or what they believed in. Charleston and Church Street are absolutely beautiful.
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Beautifully and sincerely put. I could not agree more.
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⛪️💒
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Beautiful images of these churches. Stunning!
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Thank you so much, Terri.
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Beautiful pictures and all very peaceful looking (and yet …)
Turtle Hugs
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It is beautiful but it has a dark history along with this terrible massacre. Life is black and white. K x
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Yes it has , I went to look it up (on Wiki … what else ? ) just to have an idea of what you were talking about as I didn’t know anything about it 😦
Turtle Hugs
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One of my favorite cities to visit. 🍓
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It is quite remarkable and full of history.
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I totally agree. To walk around and absorb the culture makes me feel alive with passion. 🍓
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Looks fascinating Kerry with an intriguing history. Those Huguenots got about. Victor himself spent time in exile in the Channel Islands, as did a few of his followers, but left no big churches like that.
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Well, Charleston got rich on slaving and shipping so I guess many of the church goers were less holy than they proclaimed… 🙂
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My ex-husband’s family were Huguenots. In France of course. He was called Hugh as an act of rememberance by his Father who was the son of an East End vicar. I know that he would have loved this post (my father-in-law) and particularly your last paragraph. Indeed you are so right … in the wake of the dreadful atrocity on Sunday morning we must all proceed with dignity and decorum and try to find some forgiveness for without that we are lost and put ourselves in the same frying pan ready to jump into the furnace.
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Thank you, Osyth. I wrote a post immediately following Orlando’s shooting when I was angry not just about the massacre but at our gun laws. I took it down following a couple of comments that made me think about not only my reaction but the country’s. The perpetrators of these actions (if sane) want a huge counter reaction. Let’s act with common sense and grace.
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I saw the post headline in my reader but you had already removed it. It is entirely natural to be white with rage and to express that. But in the end, you are right it is vital not to feed the beasts – let grace shine through
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Thank you. x
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Very nice Kerry, I especially like the St Philip’s Graveyard photo! Thanks dear, hope your Thursday is good to you! 🙂
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I loved that photo, too! It summoned up the feel of it. Thursday is good!
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You’ve got some really nice shots here Kerry! I love old church buildings and that blue chandelier is gorgeous.
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Thank you, Stephanie. The chandelier was startling.
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Beautiful photos! I’ve never visited a church with such delightful ambience 😊
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Me neither, it was unique.
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