A walk back in time …
The last thing that Matt and I expected to see on our trip home from Beaufort, South Carolina was the ruins of a burned out church.
We were traveling along a lovely tree lined road where the trees were dripping with Spanish Moss and we almost missed it. At first glance it looked like the sort of Italian ruins that you would see in Rome.
When we stopped and walked inside it was like turning back the pages of history. This was the remains of the red-brick Sheldon Church, built in 1775.
It was burned by General Augustine Prevost's British troops in May 1779, less than 25 years after it was built. It was then rebuilt in 1826 and given the name of Sheldon Church of Prince William's Parish.
40 years later, in 1865, Sherman's 15th corps under General John Logan once more burned the church to the ground. This was considered as part of Sherman's march to the sea.
As I strolled the grounds I could hardly believe that this place had once been the scene of such devastation. Now it is a peaceful tourist spot but it‘s also a reminder of the futility of war and man’s pursuit of it. Will it never change?
We were traveling along a lovely tree lined road where the trees were dripping with Spanish Moss and we almost missed it. At first glance it looked like the sort of Italian ruins that you would see in Rome.
When we stopped and walked inside it was like turning back the pages of history. This was the remains of the red-brick Sheldon Church, built in 1775.
It was burned by General Augustine Prevost's British troops in May 1779, less than 25 years after it was built. It was then rebuilt in 1826 and given the name of Sheldon Church of Prince William's Parish.
40 years later, in 1865, Sherman's 15th corps under General John Logan once more burned the church to the ground. This was considered as part of Sherman's march to the sea.
As I strolled the grounds I could hardly believe that this place had once been the scene of such devastation. Now it is a peaceful tourist spot but it‘s also a reminder of the futility of war and man’s pursuit of it. Will it never change?
posted by Ginnie at 5:07 PM
11 Comments:
What a lovely place. It is too bad that beautiful church had to be burned.
I love that place. I have been there several times to photograph it. So glad that you stopped there. There are still weddings there so the church still has good spirits that abide in spite of the dark times.
Me and my camera we wants to go there. :)
War and the need to dominate and destroy will never make sense to me.
The remains of that church still hold a feeling of peace. Amazing.
Ah! Those bloody redcoats ! As a Brit I felt guilty, so thanks for mentioning "Sherman". :-)
Ginnie, it's good that the remains were left standing as testimony to the futility of war.
While the destruction is sad, I can't help but find beauty even in the midst of destruction.
Looks like a lovely spot.
When we were in England some years ago, we visited Coventry Cathedral--which had been bombed into practically nothing by the German bombing in World War II. Now, the ruined cathedral stands, mute testimony to war's destruction. And the new modern cathedral was built right beside it.
Such quiet and tranquility. You captured it beautifully with your photos
Ah, the world is filled with the ruins of once spiritual places. Some seem to retain that specialness that was intended. This feels like one of them.
Late catching up - Irene has kept me busy!
LOVED the story about the flower in the crack. It is so true and perfect. We should all be like that child.
What a beautiful place. It does look peaceful.
Well I don't know if it will ever change. No one knows. But I must say those photos were beautiful Ginnie. A bit mystical looking to me.
Love Di ♥
Post a Comment
<< Home