Sheldon Church Ruins

Sheldon Church, formerly known as the Prince William Parish Church, has a tumultuous and eventful history. From it's first service in 1757 to it's present peaceful setting, the church has followed the travails of our nations' history. It is one, if not THE, first churches built in temple form in the United States. Originally organized and funded in the 1740's and1750's by William Bull, who's Newberry Plantation bordered the church grounds, the church was named Sheldon in honor of the Bulls' family ancestral home in England. The church was set ablaze in 1779 by British troops led by General Augustine Prevost during the revolutionary war. It was rebuilt from the remaining walls between 1825 and 1826. Tradition states that on January 14, 1865, near the end of the Civil War, General Shermans' troops burned the church for a second time as port of his "March To The Sea' campaign. While the walls still refused to fall, the church was not repaired again. However, another possible fate has come to light. In a litter dated February 3, 1866, after the end of the war, Milton Leverett wrote that "Sheldon Church not burn't. Just torn up in the inside but can be repaired". The inside of Sheldon Church was apparently gutted by whites and blacks who needed the materials to rebuild their homes burned by Sherman's army. This information comes from The Leverett Letters, published by the University of South Carolina Press, and can be found on pages 403 and 405. Please note that the National Registers' description quoted below, supports the contested theory that the church was burned by Sherman's troops.
This article was written by Sonny Bishop (not shown in it's entirety) of St. Helena Island.