Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Bethany

Bethany Cemetery, Charleston, SC

Usually it is the gray and dreary days that take me to the cemeteries but these dramatic skies give the setting an entirely different look. Bethany is next to Magnolia Cemetery and St. Lawrence and I roam back and forth between the three of them reminding myself that I shouldn't really be walking alone through the thick grass with thin sandals after all the snake pictures folks have been sharing lately.  I made it home safely once again.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Bethany Cemetery

Bethany Cemetery, Charleston, S.C.

When it is grey and gloomy outdoors where do I go walking? It seems natural to head to one of our historic cemeteries on upper Meeting St. I roamed Magnolia Cemetery in a light drizzle but caught this shot of the Chapel at Bethany Cemetery on my way out. Bethany is managed by St. Matthew's Lutheran Church so here is some background info from their website.

Bethany Cemetery: St. Matthew's Lutheran Church opened Bethany Cemetery in 1856 after its first cemetery was filled following several yellow fever outbreaks that devastated the immigrant German population of Charleston.  Today, Bethany's beautiful 55 acres are filled with some of the finest Victorian era mortuary art in the low country. 

What would your tombstone token be?

Bethany Cemetery, Charleston, S.C.

I walked this morning through Magnolia and Bethany Cemeteries and noticed the tokens left at loved one's graves. Toys for children, stones, coins, golf balls and this tennis racquet. What would your symbolic token be?

I am on the run, more cemetery photos to follow. Stay dry out there, kids! That was some rainstorm we had last night.

Cemetery Walking

Bethany Cemetery, Charleston, S.C.

I never tire of walking through the old cemeteries in the lowcountry. My guests from yesterday were going to try to find the tomb of their great grandfather Dr. Alonzo McClennan in the Humane & Friendly Society Cemetery.

I had searched before without success, but this time I spotted the tombstone as soon as I walked through the gate. It's been a beautiful warm day and since I arrived before the family, I took a walk through old Bethany Cemetery (above) which is immediately across the street.

As I walked out of the gates I could see that they had easily found the marker as well. Jeanette McClennan and her husband Bill were joined by Dr. Jim Tolley and his daughter Jessica. It seemed a fitting closure to this part of the history of the gentleman who lived in my house to find his tomb.