Strawberry Chapel – Cordesville, South Carolina
South Carolina | SC Picture Project | Berkeley County Photos | Strawberry Chapel
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Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Strawberry Chapel, built in 1725, is the only remaining structure from the Childsbury settlement. It is located in Berkeley County at Cordesville. In 1705, Childbury was one of the first towns to be laid out by Englishmen arriving in the Carolina colony. It was named after James Child, who operated a Cooper River ferry at the site.
Strawberry Chapel was built to make it easier for the people of Childbury to attend church without traveling to the parish church, which was 10 miles away in the direction of Moncks Corner. This chapel of ease was unusual in that the sacrament of baptism and funeral services, functions usually reserved for the full parish churches, were regularly performed here.
The chapel is a brick structure, covered with stucco. There is a decorative rosette window high on the front and back walls. Several times a year, services are still conducted in this historical setting.
SCIWAY thanks photographer Ann Helms for providing much of the historical information.
11 Comments about Strawberry Chapel
February 5th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Why was it called “Strawberry” Chapel?
February 7th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Hi Esther! We checked this chapel’s National Historic Register listing, and on the nomination form it says that this area was called “Strawberry” since the early 18th century. James Child started a ferry here, and then created a town called Childsbury. Strawberry Chapel was Child’s place of worship. Hope this helps! – SCIWAY
March 13th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
There are actually four services a year – one in October, one in November, one in March & one in April.
I attended a beautiful service there today. (My husband is the Junior Warden.)
March 14th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Thank you for letting us know Beth! – SCIWAY
March 19th, 2011 at 12:36 am
Hi! Do you know if it is possible to see the chapel or is it off limits except for the services? And how can I get information about the services (times & dates, etc)?
March 21st, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Hi Laura! We can’t say for sure about whether the actual chapel is open to the public or not. On it’s nomination form in the National Historic Register website, it does list the owner, so you may be able to give them a call and ask permission. Another route would be to call the Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce (843-577-9549) and see if they have a direct contact for the chapel. Hope this helps and good luck!
August 24th, 2011 at 4:32 am
Laura, you can definitely go see the chapel at any time during daylight hours. It is located on Strawberry Chapel Rd. in Cordesville. I have always just gone and parked and walked in the cemetery by the opening in the gate, definitely be careful at night if visiting – you used to be able to go and get spooked and be fine but now because of so many vandals it is pretty heavily guarded, with security cameras, flood lights and heavy.. HEAVY police presence.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Please note: St John’s at Berkeley (Strawberry Chapel) is private property and should be viewed only from afar unless permission has been granted to enter the grounds. Unfortunately, graves and chapel have been violated by destructive individuals.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
That place is definitely haunted at night – did not believe it at first, but soon found out it was!
July 17th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
It is sad that people have vandalized the chapel and graves, this is a place I have visited on many nights. Josh is correct, it is for sure haunted. There is an open empty tomb in the cemetery in which myself and friends have heard voices.
February 6th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
I think it’s horrible that people have to be so immature to go through and ruin everything for everyone. People that are truly interested and want to go to Strawberry Chapel to see what’s there, and can’t because stupid immature people want to destroy things that don’t belong to them, not to mention disrespecting the dead. So sad.
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