13 November 2012

Before & After - Colonial Dorchester Park

Colonial Dorchester, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Colonial Dorchester State Park - Bell Tower
There isn't much left of what was once a lively community. This bell tower was added to the church in 1751. The lengths the settlers had to go to for the freedom to worship in the manner they preferred makes me feel very lucky to live in modern times. These Puritan Pilgrim descendants left England in 1620 to live in this spot only to have South Carolina declare that Anglicanism was to be the official church of the colony. Sigh.
Colonial Dorchester State Park: Abandoned at the start of the Revolutionary War, the town of Dorchester has all but disappeared, leaving only a handful of original structures remaining. Visitors can stand below the towering remains of the brick bell tower of St. George’s Anglican Church, catch a glimpse of a log wharf during low tide or view the fort made of an oyster-shell concrete called tabby.



9 comments:

Leo at Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Hi Joan,
We really enjoy your daily post of interesting things and photos around Charleston. Jane and I lived in Mt. Pleasant for 15 years.

Marcheline said...

You know, in this case I think I like the "after" better than the "before". Sometimes the ruins of churches are more honest.

Holy City Sinner said...

A pretty neat place to visit, I recommend everyone check it out

Charlestonjoan said...

Thanks Leo! There is always something new to see around here. We are very lucky.

Charlestonjoan said...

It is a sweet spot. They are doing a little excavating now. Otherwise it is very peaceful.

Charlestonjoan said...

Yes, I think of it every two or three years and pay a visit.

Les said...

The church in the painting and Bruton Parrish Church in Williamsburg have a striking resemblance to each other.

http://www.williamsburgvirginiaguide.com/brutonparishchuch/index.html

Charlestonjoan said...

It really does. Good connection!

Kate said...

Religious freedom has been important down through the ages.