Charleston Cathedral To Gain New Spire
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Oct. 9, 2009
A team of architects and artisans are restoring the brownstone of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and building its new steeple.
Credit: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Restoration
Next year a new steeple will rise on the skyline of Charleston, S.C. The Cathedral of John the Baptist, completed in 1907, is building the spire it never had.
A previous church, built on the site in 1854, did have a steeple, but it burned down in the city's great fire of 1861. The current Gothic design called for a steeple, but the church couldn't afford one until now.
Workers began restoring the church's brownstone exterior last October, and the work is almost done. They are also building the components of the 85-foot-tall steeple and restoring a small copper cross, removed last month from the cathedral's north side.
To raise money for the project, the church will host a black-tie ball next month.
The brownstone restoration will be completed this fall, according to Paul Willis, superintendent of Hightower Construction, based in Charleston. The new steeple is scheduled to be installed by Easter.
"It's a very unique project," Willis says. "This will be one of six steeples downtown. It'll be nice to drive downtown and look at and say, 'I helped build that.'"
See more photos of the restoration in progress
For more photos, stories, and tips, subscribe to the print edition of Preservation magazine.
Subscribe to the Today's News RSS feed
Comments
Submitted by Brian at: October 9, 2009
Wow! This is extraordinary good news! Must be a very prosperous church.