French Huguenot Church

This is the only French Huguenot church in North America. It is gorgeous. The service was lovely, lots of scriptures and beautiful hymns. We were given a lovely tour with rich history after the service. The organ is a pump organ, but it isn’t played every Sunday. The organist plays beautifully. The triangle is a French Huguenot cross.

Probably my favourite point-of-history in Charleston! Which is saying a lot because the city is full of wonderful sites to see around every corner. I mean… I couldn’t pass up going to church here one Sunday while I was in the city because it’s PINK which is my favourite colour. Obv. At the time, I didn’t know much about the French Huguenots but I read up on the history of them and it is quite fascinating. This church was full with lovely people, I had a great time and it was a great service. So...this review takes a wild turn, because recently I met up with a friend who has just begun going to Hugenot meetings in Raleigh because they were grandfathered into the tradition by birth AND THEN we did some digging around and found an e-book online depicting Charleston history and found out that we are actually related from a marriage between our ancestors that took place back in the day in Charleston! Small world I guess lol. Pretty in pink. 💒

The Huguenot Church, also called the French Huguenot Church or the French Protestant Church, is a Gothic Revival church located at 136 Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina. Built in 1844 and designed by architect Edward Brickell White, it is the oldest Gothic Revival church in South Carolina, and has been designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The congregation it serves traces its origins to the 1680s, and is the only independent Huguenot church in the United States. As Protestants in predominantly-Catholic France, Huguenots faced persecution throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, many Huguenots fled France for various parts of the world, including Charleston. The early congregation of Charleston's Huguenot Church included many of these refugees, and their descendants continued to play a role in the church's affairs for many decades. The church was originally affiliated with the Calvinist Reformed Church of France, and its doctrine still retains elements of Calvinist doctrine. The church's services still follow 18th century French liturgy, but are conducted in English. The church is located in the area of Charleston known as the French Quarter, which was given this name in 1973 as part of preservation efforts. It recognizes that the area had a historically high concentration of French merchants. Peter Manigault, once the wealthiest man in the British North American colonies, is buried in the church cemetery. The Huguenots, who were French Calvinists who faced suppression in France, began to settle in other areas in the sixteenth century, founding such failed colonies as Fort Caroline in Florida and Charlesfort in modern South Carolina, as well as settling in established areas, such as South Africa, Britain, and existing colonies such as New Netherlands and Virginia. In 1598, King Henry IV of France issued the Edict of Nantes, granting certain rights and protections to the Huguenots. This edict was revoked by Louis XIV in 1685, prompting an exodus of Huguenots from France.

Hymns that praise God and edify the congregation. Liturgies that hold to Christ crucified. Reverend Bryant embarrasses his station and the robes he wears. The sermon was dementia-riddled ramblings. Story time for boomers. Christ was absent from the sermon entirely, and from his teaching, I could not tell if reverend Bryant was indeed a Christian. I’m amazed that the congregation has not yet seen fit to remove reverend Bryant from office. Calvin would be ashamed.

This is the only French Huguenot church in North America. It is gorgeous. The service was lovely, lots of scriptures and beautiful hymns. We were given a lovely tour with rich history after the service. The organ is a pump organ, but it isn’t played every Sunday. The organist plays beautifully. The triangle is a French Huguenot cross.