A Celebration of Historic St. Philip's Church and its Leading Role in the American Revolution

Celebration Events Schedule‍

All events are free of charge and open to the public

‍10:00 a.m. Doors open.
Revolutionary artifacts exhibit in narthex throughout the day

‍10:30 a.m. Colonial Music for Organ

‍11:00 a.m. Dramatic reading of excerpts from Robert Smith’s Carolina Day sermon of June 30, 1776

‍11:30 a.m. Storytelling in churchyard at Patriot historical markers with costumed interpreters portraying Edward Rutledge, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Rebecca Brewton Motte, heroine of the American Revolution

‍11:45 a.m.–12:00 noon Festal Bell Peal

‍1:30 p.m. Colonial Music for Organ, Harpsichord, and Voice*

‍2:00 p.m. Dramatic reading of excerpts from Robert Smith’s Carolina Day sermon of June 30, 1776

‍2:30 p.m. Storytelling in churchyard at Patriot historical markers with costumed interpreters portraying Edward Rutledge, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Rebecca Brewton Motte, heroine of the American Revolution

‍4:00 p.m. Doors close

Throughout the day, costumed interpreters and storytellers from the Colonialperiod and 2nd S.C. Regiment will wander through the church campus.

* The concerts presented in the church twice daily (10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.) on June 26 and 27 will be performed by Chris Walchesky, Director of Music and Organist at St. Philip’s, and will feature period organ music from C.T. Pachelbel (1690-1750), former organist of St. Philip's, and Peter Pelham (1721-1805), student of Pachelbel and later organist of Trinity Church, Boston, and Bruton Parish, Williamsburg. The afternoon concerts will also feature colonial vocal music specific to the American Revolution performed by acclaimed tenor Johnathan S. White, including works by William Billings (1746-1800) and other colonial composers, accompanied by Chris Walchesky on the harpsichord and organ.

The Revolutionary artifacts exhibit in the narthex will include rarely shown items, including:

·        The mid-18th century St. Philip's altar table that was in use when Patriot leaders including George Washington, Gen. WilliamMoultrie, Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, Rebecca Motte, and others worshipped at St. Philip’s and was used by the Rev. Robert Smith to celebrate Communion (the altar table was rescued out of the burning church during the 1835 fire)

·        Pieces from the 1729 Silver communion service used in the church throughout the Revolutionary period by the Rev. Robert Smith that were buried in the country by Smith before Charleston fell to the British and then dug up after the end of the War and returned to St. Philip’s, where they are still used today.

·        The Altar Book of Common Prayer presented to the Rev. Robert Smith in 1762 by Royal Governor Thomas Boone and used by Smith each Sunday for leading worship, including the page where Smith struck out prayers for “thy Servant George, our most gracious King and Governor” and wrote replacement words in the margin with prayers for “the delegates of these ourAmerican States, that it may please thee to rule their hearts in thy faith, fear, and love; and they may evermore have affiance in thee, and ever seek thy honour and glory.”

·        Facsimiles of the handwritten sermon notes the Rev. Smith used for his famous sermon to the Provincial Congress February 19,1775, and for his famous sermon delivered June 30, 1776, after he took up arms and fought in the famous Patriot victory at the Battle of Sullivan's Island

‍

‍

‍

‍
‍

‍