Old Sheldon Church Ruins

Old Sheldon Church Ruins is a church ruin in northern Beaufort County, South Carolina, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The brick walls and columns rise among ancient oak trees draped with Spanish moss, offering a view into colonial religious architecture.

The church was built between 1745 and 1753 as Prince William's Parish Church and suffered damage during the Revolutionary War. Later it burned again in the Civil War when Union troops moved through the region.

The ruins hold the tomb of Colonel William Bull, who established the street layout of Savannah in Georgia and performed important surveying work. His gravestone stands among the tall columns as a reminder of his role in early colonial city planning.

The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset, though wedding ceremonies are no longer permitted. Visitors find the site on Old Sheldon Church Road north of Yemassee, with parking available along the roadside.

The church walls contain tabby, a concrete mixture with oyster shells that was common along the American coast. This building method used local materials and gave the walls special resistance against weather.

Location: Beaufort County

GPS coordinates: 32.61853,-80.78047

Latest update: December 23, 2025 13:33