Trinity Episcopal Cathedral opens for tours on March 4

The Trinity graveyard has many graves of historical interest. This stone commemorates James F. Byrnes who was one of South Carolina's outstanding public servants. He served as a Solicitor, Member of Congress, Senator, Supreme Court Justice and Secretary of State under President Harry Truman. in 1950, when he was in his 70s, he was elected governor of South Carolina.The stained glass behind the high altar was given in memory of the Rev. Peter Shand who was the rector of Trinity Church for over 50 years. During and after the Civil War, Shand refused to offer the prayer for the President of the United States found in the Book of Common Prayer.The Baptismal Font at Trinity Cathedral was sculpted by Hiram Powers as a gift from the Hampton family. Powers' original sculpture was deemed too small for the Cathedral and that font was given to an Episcopal Church in Union, S.C. The second font is still in use today. Powers relationship with the Hampton family soured on the issue of slavery. Powers was a native of Vermont which outlawed slavery in 1791, when it became a state.View the list »
Trinity Cathedral will open for tours on March 4

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Trinity Episcopal Cathedral will open for tours this fall. The Cathedral, located at 1100 Sumter Street, across from the State House,will be open for tours from 10 a.m-noon Monday-Friday starting Monday, March 4 through Friday, May 10. Starting Tuesday, April 2, tours will be offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Trinity reopened in October, 2010 after a 2 1/2 year restoration. The restoration is part of the Cathedral's preparations for its bicentennial this year. The Cathedral building itself dates from 1846.

Visitors will be able to see the fruits of that restoration including the red dome over the Cathedral's high altar. Other points of interest include the baptismal font; a gift from the Hampton family that was designed by sculptor Hiram Powers and the stained glass windows from England, Germany and this country.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia, SC
34.000999450684 ; -81.030899047852

A tour of the Cathedral graveyard is also included. One of the oldest in Columbia, the graveyard is the final resting place of many prominent South Carolinians including James F. Byrnes who was Secretary of State under President Harry Truman and Governor of South Carolina from 1951-1955. Also buried here is General Wade Hampton III,veteran of the Civil War and the first post-reconstruction Governor of South Carolina.

Tours are offered by Cathedral docents at no charge but donations are accepted. Upon entering the Trinity Campus, follow the signs that are posted during tour hours to the location where tours begin.

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  • The Baptismal Font at Trinity Cathedral was sculpted by Hiram Powers as a gift from the Hampton family. Powers' original sculpture was deemed too small for the Cathedral and that font was given to an Episcopal Church in Union, S.C. The second font is still in use today. Powers relationship with the Hampton family soured on the issue of slavery. Powers was a native of Vermont which outlawed slavery in 1791, when it became a state.
  • The stained glass behind the high altar was given in memory of the Rev. Peter Shand who was the rector of Trinity Church for over 50 years. During and after the Civil War, Shand refused to offer the prayer for the President of the United States found in the Book of Common Prayer.
  • The Trinity graveyard has many graves of historical interest. This stone commemorates James F. Byrnes who was one of South Carolina's outstanding public servants. He served as a Solicitor, Member of Congress, Senator, Supreme Court Justice and Secretary of State under President Harry Truman. in 1950, when he was in his 70s, he was elected governor of South Carolina.
View the list
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Doug Steimle was born and raised in New York City. After graduating from ...

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