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 1757.
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 1757.
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.
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.
posted by Goldendaze-Ginnie at 3:00 PM
6 Comments:
And there are people burning churches today as well. Humankind hasn’t made much progress.
How true. Or the tyrants of the past Cen sanitize such places by changing the look of things to create alternate facts and circumstances. Or even in the present as well.
It looks fascinating to me.
How great that it is now allowed to rest in peace and has not been altered. That would have given me goosebumps.
I love it there and we have been several times. We always find interesting historical information and sites.
From my friend Jan:
The artist in me sees beauty in this spot, but my heart sees such pain. Once again, destruction and hatred of man against man sits in a beautiful place to remind us of the “futility of war.”
Here on the Shore, I heard the story of how the damned Yankees took “my” church and turned it into a stable for their horses. The little brick Episcopal Church was built in 1652 and badly damaged during the civil war – but it still stands and services are still being conducted there today. I have often wondered how these warriors who claimed to be Christians could destroy buildings they otherwise would call a house of God…
I am glad if this spot is now at Peace and others can enjoy the beauty of the trees and moss.
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