Strawberry Chapel from the back of the three acre property, at least as far back as it is cleared.

This tree has been witness to a lot of history.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River.

I was impressed by the number and size of the glass windows at Strawberry Chapel given that it was built in 1725. Considerable expense would have been involved.

This window on the west side of the building has a view of the brick receiving crypt where remains would be kept prior to a funeral.

This is the view from the front of the room, one of the fenced burial plots is visible out the left window. I didn’t hear mention if these were the original pews, but most of the floor down the middle is original tile.

And the same view again, including the decorative window at the peak.

The west door has the same view as from that window to the left, shown in the first image. A matching door and small anti-room are on the opposite side.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River. The chapel is private property and Ted and I attended an educational / history event on the site.

The grounds at Strawberry Chapel have a number of haphazardly placed brick-walled enclosures for family burial plots.

With doors on three sides, the layout maximized any available air flow for gatherings during the hot low-country summers.

The decedents of this family don’t keep up their enclosed section. The chapel owners have all they can do to maintain the open sections of the grounds.

The rectangular building has a “jerkin head” roof, essentially a gable end that has a hip. The chapel will be celebrating 300 years in 2025 so the structure was a good choice.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River.

Strawberry Chapel is rectangular with windows and doors on opposite sides to maximize air flow.

The number of windows and their ornate design hint at the wealth of those that built it.

Several of the windows have well fitting shutters. Sadly, many of the original window panes have been broken by vandals.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River. The chapel is private property and Ted and I attended an educational / history event on the site.

The Anglican Church established “chapels of ease” throughout rural South Carolina in the 1700s for members to attend services close to home without trekking to an actual church.

Built in 1725, Strawberry Chapel is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement on the Cooper River. The chapel is private property and Ted and I attended an educational / history event there yesterday.

September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina