French Huguenot Church
French Huguenot Church
4.5
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This beautiful church dates back to 1844 and is the only French Hugenot church in the country that still gives the liturgy in French.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
91 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
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4
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Terrible
1
David S
Middlesbrough, UK2,381 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Charming compact colonial style church in easy reach when walking from the cruise port. Set just back from the port area, the church is a real delight to view. My wife and I were in the area so we took the opportunity to pop in to admire the church. Thankfully we were made very welcome.
Written 7 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tangi1
Elizabeth, NJ761 contributions
Apr 2021
Yet another shining example why Charleston is referred to as The Holy City. Beautiful French Huguenot church with interesting exterior and interior. There are plaques of former congregants and Presidents of Huguenot ancestry.
Written 19 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY15,009 contributions
Oct 2020
The French Huguenot Church was a stop on our walking tour of the city. It’s a very pretty Gothic Church. The grounds were declared in the 1600s. The new building is from the 1800s.
Written 22 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travel7continents
Norfolk, VA1,381 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
My husband's geneology research led him to phone the French Huguenot Society in Charleston. He met at the archives with one of the geneologists who was an enormous help with information on his French ancestors. He and I later went to this church which is a National Historic Landmark.The French who joined the Protestant Movement were forced out of Catholic France. Many made the journey to the New World and many landed first in Charleston. In 1687 the first Huguenot Church in Charleston was built on Church and Queen Streets.The Civil War bombardment of Charleston did extensive damage to much of the city including the church. In 1886 the current church was built on the same site.The most amazing thing I noticed are the plagues in the entry listing the names of famous Americans with Huguenot heritage, including Matthew Fountaine Maury, U.S.Naval officer and first person to chart the oceans and seas of the world. The high school in Norfolk,Virginia is named for him.The church is open daily and welcomes visitors.
Written 4 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chezcalais
Reading, PA371 contributions
May 2013 • Family
We stopped by the Huguenot Church on Church Street, and what a pleasure it was! We met a lovely docent who drives in from Mt. Pleasant to talk to the Charleston tourists and share with them about her church. Did you know this is the Only Independent French Huguenot Church in the US?
I recommend stopping by the French Huguenot Church not just to take a quick look, but have a chat with the docents. They are a wealth of information! Not only that, the architecture of the church inside and out is stunning.
If you have the opportunity, peek into the French Huguenot Church yard, there are tombs and graves of the early settlers of Charleston dating back to the early 1700’s as well as some influential Charlestonians. For example: the Manigault Family Vault is located here- its the burial place of 25+ Members of the Manigault Family. Those interred here inclucde:
- Pierre Manigualt, who established the tomb in 1721. He was a Huguenot refugee from La Rochelle France, who helped establish Charleston.
- Gabriel Manigault the wealthy colonial merchant and American Patriot and his wife Ann Ashby Manigault , whose journals are an important resource for Colonial Charleston scholars.
- The Honorable Peter Manigault, American Patriot and Speaker of the Colonial Commons House of Assembly, along with his beloved wife Elizabeth Wragg Manigault. You can view two very different copies of Allan Ramsay’s painting of Peter Manigault hanging in 2 locations in Charleston- One, which is a terrible copy, hangs in the Joseph Manigault House dining room, and a better replica hangs in the staircase in the Old Court House at Broad and Meeting Streets- Left side, going up towards the 2nd floor. Ramsay's original painting is missing; fortunately, a photograph of the original portrait is in existence, so you can compare the qualities of the replicas yourself! Elizabeth Manigault’s original portrait by Jeremiah Thesus hangs in the Ballroom/ Drawing Room at the Joseph Manigault House. Elizabeth's father, Joseph Wragg, created the Wraggboro section of Charleston. Elizabeth Street is named in her honor. (Peter and Elizabeth Manigault are the parents of Joseph and Gabriel ‘the architect’ Manigault.)
- Joseph and Charlotte Drayton Manigault, the owners of the Joseph Manigault House that you can tour on Meeting Street (I highly recommend a tour here- the Manigaults bore witness to some amazing history!). Both their portraits are hanging in the Joseph Manigault House on Meeting Street. Joseph fought in the American Revolution and was on the SC committee that ratified the US Constitution. Charlotte was a daughter of Dr. Charles Drayton of Drayton Hall.
- Gabriel Manigault “The Architect” (who designed the Joseph Manigault House, City Hall and Society Hall) and his wife Margaret Izard Manigault. Gabriel also fought in the American Revolution and was on the SC Committee that ratified the US Constitution. Margaret Izard Manigault was daughter of Ralph Izard, a highly respected founder of the US.
- These are but just a few of the dynamic personalities whose final resting place is the Huguenot Church Grave Yard.
Highly, highly recommended as a stop on you itinerary.
I recommend stopping by the French Huguenot Church not just to take a quick look, but have a chat with the docents. They are a wealth of information! Not only that, the architecture of the church inside and out is stunning.
If you have the opportunity, peek into the French Huguenot Church yard, there are tombs and graves of the early settlers of Charleston dating back to the early 1700’s as well as some influential Charlestonians. For example: the Manigault Family Vault is located here- its the burial place of 25+ Members of the Manigault Family. Those interred here inclucde:
- Pierre Manigualt, who established the tomb in 1721. He was a Huguenot refugee from La Rochelle France, who helped establish Charleston.
- Gabriel Manigault the wealthy colonial merchant and American Patriot and his wife Ann Ashby Manigault , whose journals are an important resource for Colonial Charleston scholars.
- The Honorable Peter Manigault, American Patriot and Speaker of the Colonial Commons House of Assembly, along with his beloved wife Elizabeth Wragg Manigault. You can view two very different copies of Allan Ramsay’s painting of Peter Manigault hanging in 2 locations in Charleston- One, which is a terrible copy, hangs in the Joseph Manigault House dining room, and a better replica hangs in the staircase in the Old Court House at Broad and Meeting Streets- Left side, going up towards the 2nd floor. Ramsay's original painting is missing; fortunately, a photograph of the original portrait is in existence, so you can compare the qualities of the replicas yourself! Elizabeth Manigault’s original portrait by Jeremiah Thesus hangs in the Ballroom/ Drawing Room at the Joseph Manigault House. Elizabeth's father, Joseph Wragg, created the Wraggboro section of Charleston. Elizabeth Street is named in her honor. (Peter and Elizabeth Manigault are the parents of Joseph and Gabriel ‘the architect’ Manigault.)
- Joseph and Charlotte Drayton Manigault, the owners of the Joseph Manigault House that you can tour on Meeting Street (I highly recommend a tour here- the Manigaults bore witness to some amazing history!). Both their portraits are hanging in the Joseph Manigault House on Meeting Street. Joseph fought in the American Revolution and was on the SC committee that ratified the US Constitution. Charlotte was a daughter of Dr. Charles Drayton of Drayton Hall.
- Gabriel Manigault “The Architect” (who designed the Joseph Manigault House, City Hall and Society Hall) and his wife Margaret Izard Manigault. Gabriel also fought in the American Revolution and was on the SC Committee that ratified the US Constitution. Margaret Izard Manigault was daughter of Ralph Izard, a highly respected founder of the US.
- These are but just a few of the dynamic personalities whose final resting place is the Huguenot Church Grave Yard.
Highly, highly recommended as a stop on you itinerary.
Written 19 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,846 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
Seeing a Huguenot church in Charleston made me think of my days in world history learning about their persecution in France from the Catholic church. Learn the history of the church and then go for a visit. It truly is interesting.
Written 23 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ksgarner
Perrysburg, OH18 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
To my knowledge this isn't really a tourist spot. I happened to get an impromptu tour while on a walking tour and our tour guide knew someone who was working there. Washington sat in one of the pews, names are inscribed of people who donated to keep the church going when it went through hard times, the ladies of the church fought off the Brits from taking the pipe organ. If you can somehow find your way in, you should take a few minutes to walk around. Beautiful church that you won't regret seeing.
Written 7 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bsktdee
Dallas, TX196 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
While on our way to see St. Phillips Church, (which was closed that day) we came across this lovely building and decided to go in. What a beautiful surprise. Our guide greeted us with a smile and a fascinating history lesson on this church. Built around 1845, this church is home to the only active Huguenot congregation in the country. After the grandeur of St. Michael's church (we had been there previously that day), this little building seemed rather plain, but still beautiful in its simplicity. We were actually glad that our original destination was closed so that we could spend the time here instead.
Written 22 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kitty42276
Memphis, TN12 contributions
Jul 2013
Was in Charleston for the week, and although they say visitors are welcomed, at no point during our visit was it open no matter the time of day. I would have liked to take in the history of the church.
Written 10 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JonLugoff_SC
Lugoff, SC401 contributions
This church along with several others in the old part of Charleston are well worth a short stop. Stroll the grounds outside and peek inside if they are open. In most cases the inside of the churches aren't that intersting, but the cemeteries that surround them and the outside archatecture are well worth a visit.
Written 21 October 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where is the best place to park if attending Sunday services. I know street parking is very limited and regulated.
Written 28 September 2016
What time is Sunday service? What days can you tour the church and what hours?
Written 7 May 2015
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