About Sacred Heart · Charleston, South Carolina
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin parish of the Diocese of Charleston serving upper Charleston, South Carolina from its location at 888 King Street. Founded in 1920 by Bishop William T. Russell as a mission carved out of St. Patrick's parish, the present brick church was built in 1939 after a 1938 tornado destroyed the original frame buildings. The parish is notable in the Lowcountry for its Traditional Latin Mass (in the 1962 Missal) every Sunday, its historic 1939 church building, and its leadership by Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson VG, who also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Charleston, assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Paul R. Lacombe.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson VG
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers something almost unique in the Charleston area: a small, historic parish in walking distance of upper-Charleston neighborhoods, celebrated by long-serving diocesan clergy, where the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Roman Missal) is offered every Sunday at noon in addition to the ordinary English-form Masses. The parish's 267 households and 400-seat church keep it intimate, and the listing on the Diocese of Charleston's directory confirms a full sacramental schedule (Saturday Vigil, Sunday morning Mass, weekday Mass, regular confession before each Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays). For Catholics seeking a quiet, reverent, traditional parish with stable leadership under a Vicar General of the diocese, Sacred Heart is an uncommon find on the Carolina coast.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:20 p.m.
- Sunday 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. (before 9:00 a.m. Mass)
- Sunday 11:30 – 11:50 a.m. (before 12:00 noon Latin Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- First Friday 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Parish History
Sacred Heart was founded in 1920 by Bishop William T. Russell to serve the Catholic population of upper Charleston, who previously had to travel to St. Patrick's on Hasell Street. Father John J. Hughes was appointed first pastor. The original frame church and rectory were built that same year, with a frame parish hall added in 1924. A one-story brick school followed in 1930, with a second story added later. On September 29, 1938 a tornado destroyed the frame church, hall, and rectory; construction of the present masonry buildings began in 1939. The cornerstone was laid privately on November 5, 1939 by Rev. Henry F. Wolfe (pastor) and Rev. James J. Guinea (assistant). Bishop Emmet M. Walsh dedicated the completed church on November 29, 1939.
- Founded 1920 by Bishop William T. Russell
- First pastor: Rev. John J. Hughes
- Tornado of September 29, 1938 destroyed original frame buildings
- Cornerstone of present church laid November 5, 1939
- Dedication by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh on November 29, 1939
Building and Architecture
The 1939 Sacred Heart complex replaced the 1920 frame buildings on the same King and Huger Street parcel. The complex was planned to seat more than five hundred in the church, with a ten-room rectory, a three-car garage, and a two-story brick school arranged tightly so that the church visually dominates. The Diocese of Charleston directory today lists seating at about 400.
- 1930 one-story brick school, second story added later
- 1939 brick church seating 400+
- Ten-room rectory
- Three-car garage
- Tight urban footprint at corner of King and Huger Streets
Traditional Latin Mass
Sacred Heart has long been identified in the Charleston area with the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal. According to both the Diocese of Charleston directory and third-party listings, the Latin Mass is offered every Sunday at 12:00 p.m., in addition to the Ordinary-Form Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass.
- Sung/recited Latin Mass every Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
- Use of the 1962 Roman Missal (Extraordinary Form)
- Confessions heard before the Latin Mass, 11:30 – 11:50 a.m.
Clergy and Staff
The diocese directory lists Sacred Heart's current leadership as Administrator Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson VG, assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Paul R. Lacombe, with Angela Prince as administrative assistant. Father Wilson also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Charleston.
- Administrator: Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson VG
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul R. Lacombe
- Administrative Assistant: Angela Prince
Parish Life and Outreach
Diocese records count 267 households and 400 seats, making Sacred Heart a deliberately small, intimate Charleston parish. Its identifying ministries are the Sunday Latin Mass, weekday Mass on Fridays, robust confession times before every Mass, and First-Friday Eucharistic Adoration.
- 267 households (Diocese of Charleston directory)
- 400-seat church
- First Friday Adoration
- Confession before every Sunday Mass
Visiting and Contact
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish at (843) 722-7018 or through the official website sacredheartcharleston.org. The church is located at the corner of King Street and Huger Street — a recognizable upper-Charleston landmark visible from multiple blocks in each direction.
- Phone: (843) 722-7018
- Website: sacredheartcharleston.org
- Facebook: /sacredheartcharleston
- Address: 888 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. Hughes1920–
First pastor, appointed by Bishop William T. Russell at the parish's founding. Built the original 1920 frame church and rectory.
- Rev. Henry F. Wolfe1938–1939+
Past when the September 29, 1938 tornado destroyed the frame complex; laid the cornerstone of the present brick church on November 5, 1939, assisted by assistant pastor Rev. James J. Guinea.
- Rev. James J. Guineac. 1938–1939+
Assistant pastor at Sacred Heart during the 1938–1939 reconstruction; assisted Pastor Wolfe at the cornerstone ceremony on November 5, 1939.
- Rev. Paul R. Lacombepresent
Current Parochial Vicar under Administrator Very Rev. Gregory B. Wilson VG.