Unitarian Church in Charleston
Unitarian Church in Charleston
Unitarian Church in Charleston
4.5
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Neighbourhood: Harleston Village
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4.5
165 reviews
Excellent
114
Very good
45
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Cruiser298229
9 contributions
Apr 2022
Each time we walked past the narrow entrance on King Street the entrance gates were locked. On the last day of our Charleston visit the gates were open. Glory be! What a pleasant surprise right off the hustle and bustle of King Street. If you have a chance, step inside and breath in the beauty of the garden.
Written 24 April 2022
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.
TJ D
Charlotte, NC68 contributions
Sept 2011 • Couples
My wife and I visited Charleston, SC for several days in September 2011. We came across the Unitarian Church on Archdale Street and as we have an affinity for church graveyards, we decided to walk through the graveyard adjacent to the church. The first thing we noticed was that the graveyard was overgrown with wild flowers, bushes and weeds. We had never heard of this graveyard before and were not familiar with any of the legends connected to it. We both made a fuss about the overgrown state, when as if on cue, an elderly gentleman entered the graveyard from a rear entrance, pushing an old lawn mower. He nodded as we passed, but didn’t make eye contact, and we continued walking toward the rear of the graveyard. Upon our return toward the front of the graveyard near the church building, the man was seated on a bench, with the lawn mower beside him. We didn’t think a lot of it, and continued through the graveyard, stepped over the low chain that separated the Unitarian graveyard from the Lutheran graveyard next door. We spent about ten minutes in the adjacent graveyard, and upon our return from the Lutheran church, we passed the bench where the old man was seated, but there was no sight of him nor of the lawn mower. We didn’t really think about it until several days later, while sitting in our living room at home talking about our trip, that it occurred to us, that we had not seen the man nor heard the lawn mower upon our return, nor had we heard it while in the adjacent graveyard. We suddenly had the eerie feeling that we had seen a ghost, who, upon hearing our complaints about the condition of the graveyard, had made an effort to show that someone did indeed care about the condition of the grounds. I wonder if anyone else has seen this man?
Written 6 September 2011
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.
FancyNancyBoston
Boston280 contributions
The Unitarian Church is a designated National Historic Landmark and a wonderful active church in the Charleston community. We were fortunate to stop by soon after an 11 AM Sunday service and toured the lovely interior - fabulous elaborate fan vaulted ceiling and painted glass windows - warm and inviting church and congregation. It also has a very interesting garden and graveyard which is sometimes referred to as the "Spooky Cemetary" - natural and somewhat deliberately (I'm guessing) overgrown with many old tombstones - very different from the neatly trimmed graveyard next door at the Lutheran church. The graveyard can be entered from 161 1/2 King Street and the church from Archdale St. Worth visting both cemetaries and the church although it has limited visiting hours - best to check with the church on open times.
Written 22 November 2009
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.
Brian S
Sumter, SC1,224 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
Spent the afternoon exploring the Cemetery in hopes of finding the unmarked grave of Anne Ravennel the tragic lover of Edgar Allan Poe who supposedly is buried in this Cemetery and still haunts the grounds. Wec heard the story on a local ghost tour and it was something out of the ordinary. The church is beautiful and has amazing historical Architecture and design. The Cemetery is large and full of crypts and markings all the way back to the 1700's. If your a history buff or interested in ghost stories you should make this one of your must visit destinations.
Written 23 April 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.
Ed P.
Jupiter, FL86 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
And you haven't been here yet....you need to come here. Most Unitarian Universalist churches are far and away more about the community than about the building, and that's quite good and OK. But when you step into this church, it's about building, AND history. Gosh, if you're a liberal and religious, this church and its cemetery can take your breath away. I was there for an inter generational service, which we all know can get hokey - I didn't know any of the kids - and I still left feeling that I had just experienced something great.
Written 9 December 2012
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.
Evan B
Dublin Ireland55 contributions
We didn't go into the church because it was locked, so I can't say much for the inside, but Unitarians apparently like to have their cemeteries go to nature just a bit and it gives this particular cemetery a really unique look as its kinda overgrown. Of course, Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "Annabelle Lee," refers to this particular cemetery. We didn't see any ghosts, but ghost stories are always a good thing. Don't miss this.
Written 1 February 2010
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.
randstyr
Ashburn, VA125 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
Stumbled upon the cemetery associated with this church completely by accident. Wow -- it is worth a visit to take a walk through. Even though it is small, the setting is like none other I've seen -- overgrown grasses, hanging moss... just begging to be photographed! Interesting to read some of the headstones too. Definitely suggest taking the quick jaunt (one block over from King Street) to see this.
Written 30 March 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.
Anne M
Wichita, KS162 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
If you are a photographer, this is a must stop while in Charleston: intriguing shapes, textures, colors (but perfect for b&w too), amazing variety of flora. Great opportunity to do some creative HDR work, too.
It is hauntingly (sorry – couldn’t resist) quiet in the center of the city. Enter the gate and you enter another realm.
The fact that it is overgrown imparts a mystical ambiance. Even in the glare of a high noon sun, shadows shift with the sway of the Spanish moss, the deep shade of a tree-canopied path explodes into dazzling sunlight. The tendril of a vine brushes the back of your neck. But wait - was that really just a vine?
Worth 45 minutes of your time even if you are not toting a camera.
Date of Visit: 30Mar2012
It is hauntingly (sorry – couldn’t resist) quiet in the center of the city. Enter the gate and you enter another realm.
The fact that it is overgrown imparts a mystical ambiance. Even in the glare of a high noon sun, shadows shift with the sway of the Spanish moss, the deep shade of a tree-canopied path explodes into dazzling sunlight. The tendril of a vine brushes the back of your neck. But wait - was that really just a vine?
Worth 45 minutes of your time even if you are not toting a camera.
Date of Visit: 30Mar2012
Written 11 April 2012
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.
MKEgal
Milwaukee, WI115 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
Go see this! We were lucky enough to be there when the azaleas were blooming. The morning sun streaked through the moss and lit up the headstones and the flowers...just amazing.
Written 21 March 2012
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.
michellec2010
Johns Creek, GA159 contributions
Aug 2011
We stumbled on this cemetery on the ghost tour app we were walking, and we were glad we did. The overgrown paths, live oaks with Spanish moss, and crumbling headstones made for some amazing, almost surreal photos. Beautiful and historic - and spooky.
Written 28 October 2011
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.
sparksvolker
Birmingham, Alabama
What is the best time to visit the UU cemetery? Late evening about dusk?
Do you do any B and B's or rental cottages you recommend. Virginia
Written 4 July 2018
I suggest calling ahead,we went on our own and did our own thing,pictures,tombstone reading.In an excellent location among everything historic.
Written 4 July 2018
sparksvolker
Birmingham, Alabama
MY family 5 adults and 2 teen agers will be in Charleston July 28 to August 3. WE are UU from Birmingham and want to do the ghost tour for your church/cemetery. Do you have any house or apartment rentals in the area for available for all the family? Virginia 205-592-7966
Written 2 July 2018
My son rented a air bnb place in Mt. Pleasanr and it was a 3 bedroom,one floor ranch home.Was very spacious and clean,sorry don't have exact location,but while I was vacationing the it seemed like no matter where you stay,you will love this area.Both Charleston and Mt.Pleasant.
Written 4 July 2018
Heyjudi27
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Do you have a member bed and breakfast plan. If so I'm coming in September 2016. From Judi
Written 26 May 2016
Christmas services this year? If so what days/hours? Thanks
Written 13 December 2015
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