About Saint Mary of the Annunciation · Charleston, South Carolina
Saint Mary of the Annunciation is the oldest Catholic parish in the Carolinas and Georgia, founded in 1789 in Charleston, South Carolina, when a small group of Catholics organized a congregation on Hasell Street in what was then a predominantly Protestant city. The parish worships today in its third church building on the original site — a stucco-covered brick Classical Revival structure completed on June 9, 1839, after the Great Fire of 1838 destroyed its predecessor. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976, the church is known locally as the 'Historic Parish of the Southeast' and serves a diverse downtown congregation from its location at 89/95 Hasell Street in the Charleston Diocese.
- Established
- 1789
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of the Annunciation)
- Rector
- Very Rev. C. Thomas Miles, KHS, MCL, JCL (Judicial Vicar)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers something rare for the Lowcountry: the living heart of a 236-year-old downtown parish housed in a National Register landmark, with a small enough community that parishioners genuinely know one another. Worship is celebrated in the extraordinary 1839 Classical Revival sanctuary — Cogdell's Crucifixion, Cesare Porta's Roman paintings, and Franz Mayer's Munich stained glass — with daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday and a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses. There is a robust OCIA (adult formation) program, an active youth ministry for middle- and high-schoolers led by a full-time director, a diaconate-led outreach to seafarers through the Apostleship of the Sea, and a choral music program under an organist-choirmaster — all set inside one of the most historic Catholic buildings in the Southeastern United States.
Mass times at Saint Mary of the Annunciation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday – Friday: immediately following the 8:00 a.m. Mass
- Saturday: immediately following the 8:00 a.m. Mass, and 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Per the parish website's 'Masses & Adoration' page (specific weekly adoration hours posted there and in the bulletin; Holy Day schedules posted in the bulletin)
About Saint Mary of the Annunciation
Saint Mary of the Annunciation is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Charleston, located at 89 and 95 Hasell Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic congregation in the Carolinas and Georgia and the parish from which the Diocese of Charleston itself was eventually created in 1820. The parish worships in its third church building on the original Hasell Street site, a stucco-covered brick Classical Revival structure completed on June 9, 1839, after the Great Fire of 1838. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976, the church is a working parish and a Charleston landmark. The parish office is open Monday through Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., at 843-722-7696.
- Founded: 1789
- Pastor: Very Rev. C. Thomas Miles (appointed March 3, 2025)
- Deacons: Paul M. Rosenblum, Ph.D.; David Wagner
- Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry: Ryan Altenbach
- Music Director / Organist & Choirmaster: Larry Long
- Office Manager (part-time): Joan Smith
- Deanery: Charleston
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NR #76001697)
Parish History
The congregation's roots go back to 1786, when an Italian priest aboard a ship bound for South America celebrated what is believed to be the first Catholic Mass in Charleston, in the home of an Irish Catholic. In 1788 Father Matthew Ryan, an Irish priest sent from Dublin by Father John Carroll, rented a wood-frame building on Hasell Street; in 1789 he was replaced by Rev. Dr. Thomas Keating, who purchased the present property. The parish was incorporated by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1791. Conflict with Bishop Carroll over the lay-trustee system culminated in the archbishop's interdict on the church in 1816–1819, which directly led to the creation of the Diocese of Charleston in 1820 under Bishop John England — and Bishop England himself moved the cathedral elsewhere in 1822 because relations with the parish remained strained. The brick church of 1806 was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1838, and the present Classical Revival building was completed on June 9, 1839. Major renovations in 1895–96, 1905, and 1928, plus a fourth renovation now underway, have shaped the present interior of Cogdell's Crucifixion, Cesare Porta's Roman paintings, Franz Mayer's Munich stained glass, and six successive organs. St. Mary's has survived the Great Fire of 1861, Union shelling in 1863, and the 1886 Charleston earthquake, and was preserved in place when the surrounding block became the Charleston Place complex in the early 1980s.
- 1786 — First Catholic Mass in Charleston celebrated in a private home
- 1788 — Fr. Matthew Ryan arrives from Dublin and rents a Hasell Street wood-frame building
- 1789 — Rev. Dr. Thomas Keating purchases the property; parish incorporated 1791 by SC General Assembly
- 1806 — First brick church built under Fr. Simon Felix Gallagher
- 1810 — Trustees refuse Bishop Carroll's priest; 1816 interdict placed by Archbishop Neale
- 1820 — Diocese of Charleston erected; Bishop John England takes control December 31, 1820
- 1822 — Cathedral function moved elsewhere; St. Mary's continues as a parish
- 1838 — Great Fire destroys the brick church; Cogdell's 1814 Crucifixion salvaged and repainted
- 1839 — Present Classical Revival church completed and reopened June 9
- 1884, 1895–96, 1905, 1928 — successive major renovations
- 1976 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NR #76001697)
- Early 1980s — Preserved when Charleston Place complex is built around it
- 2017 — Graveyard inventory completed under Prof. Frances Ford, College of Charleston
- 2020–present — Fourth major renovation in progress
Architecture, Art & Furnishings
The present building is a rectangular, stucco-covered brick structure, 84 ft by 50 ft, in the Classical Revival style, with four Doric columns supporting a large entablature, a Tuscan portico with parapet, and arched openings. Seating capacity is approximately 250–300. Above the high altar hangs John S. Cogdell's Crucifixion, originally painted in 1814, salvaged from the 1838 fire and repainted by Cogdell on the same canvas. The walls and ceiling carry copies of old masters painted in Rome by Cesare Porta and installed in 1896 with painted filigree 'frames' by H. Mastin Batchelder of Charleston. Stained-glass arched windows were imported from the Franz Mayer studio in Munich in 1895–96, with eight more added in 1928. Polished marble altars, a marble communion rail, and a marble baptismal font were installed during the 1895–96 renovation and consecrated by Bishop John Moore of St. Augustine on March 25, 1896, the Feast of the Annunciation. A new side altar dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and four statues were donated in 1905.
- Architectural style: Classical Revival (Roman-inspired)
- Dimensions: 84 ft × 50 ft; capacity ~250–300
- Doric columns, Tuscan portico, parapet wall (added c. 1896)
- John S. Cogdell — Crucifixion (1814, restored after 1838 fire)
- Cesare Porta (Rome) — copies of old masters, installed 1896
- H. Mastin Batchelder (Charleston) — painted 'frames', 1896
- Franz Mayer & Co. (Munich) — stained glass, 1895–96 (and 1928)
- Polished marble altars and communion rail, 1896
Organs & Music
Music at St. Mary's has been supported by a remarkable succession of organs: the first was installed in 1806, the second was destroyed by Union shelling in 1863, the third (Henry Erben, New York, 1867) was destroyed in the 1886 Charleston earthquake, and the fourth (Hook & Hastings, Boston) was installed in 1895–96. The fifth organ (T. Howard Sheehan, c. 1950) was followed in 1980 by the present instrument, a restored 1874/1894 Jardine of New York, restored by Mann & Trupiano. A new organ — a W. Zimmer & Sons instrument rebuilt by Cornel Zimmer of Denver, NC, gifted by Advent Lutheran Church and currently in storage — will be installed as part of the ongoing renovation, along with remodeling of the choir loft. Larry Long serves as Music Director, Organist & Choirmaster.
- Organ #1: 1806
- Organ #2: destroyed by shelling 1863
- Organ #3: Henry Erben, New York, 1867; destroyed in 1886 earthquake
- Organ #4: Hook & Hastings, Boston, 1895–96
- Organ #5: T. Howard Sheehan, c. 1950
- Organ #6 (current): 1874/1894 Jardine, New York; restored by Mann & Trupiano, 1980
- Future Organ: W. Zimmer & Sons, rebuilt by Cornel Zimmer (Denver, NC); gift of Advent Lutheran Church, awaiting installation
- Music Director: Larry Long
The Historic Graveyard
The church graveyard lies on each side and to the rear of the church, holding generations of Charleston Catholic burials. Many early tombstones are in French, reflecting the strong early French presence in the congregation — parish registers were kept in French until 1822. In 2017 parishioner Michael Wilson, working with Professor Frances Ford and graduate students of the College of Charleston, completed a comprehensive inventory of the graveyard, a resource used by genealogists and historians researching Lowcountry Catholic families.
- Tombstones often in French (parish registers in French until 1822)
- Graveyard inventory completed 2017 by Michael Wilson with College of Charleston
Worship Schedule & Devotions
St. Mary's offers daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 a.m., a Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m., and two Sunday Masses at 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Confessions are heard Tuesday through Friday immediately after the 8:00 a.m. Mass, on Saturday immediately after the 8:00 a.m. Mass and again from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and by appointment. Adoration and Holy Day schedules are posted in the bulletin and on the parish's 'Masses & Adoration' page. The parish encourages OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) candidates, sponsors, and inquirers to contact Ryan Altenbach. Most recent bulletins are available on the 'Bulletin' page of the website.
- Daily Mass: Tue–Sat 8:00 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Confessions: Tue–Fri after 8:00 a.m. Mass; Sat after 8:00 a.m. Mass and 3:30–4:30 p.m.; by appointment
- Holy Day schedules posted in the bulletin
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish runs both an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion with the Catholic Church, and a year-round Youth Ministry for middle and high school students led by Director Ryan Altenbach. The Youth Ministry gathers students in fun, community, and small-group settings — Bible Study, 'Scripture & Scoops,' service projects, and a High School Youth Conference — to learn Catholic teaching and to support families as the primary educators of faith at home. Permission slips, calendar, and contact information are posted on the parish's 'Youth Ministry' page.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Catechumens, Candidates, and Sponsors
- Religious Education (Director: Ryan Altenbach)
- Youth Ministry (middle and high school) — Bible Study, Scripture & Scoops, service projects, High School Youth Conference
- Contact: Ryan Altenbach, [email protected]
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
Father C. Thomas Miles, who also serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Charleston, was appointed Pastor of St. Mary's on March 3, 2025. He is assisted by two permanent deacons: Deacon Paul M. Rosenblum, Ph.D., a retired Citadel biology professor who since 2015 has also served as the diocesan Apostleship of the Sea Port Minister (full-time since 2017); and Deacon David Wagner, recently assigned to St. Mary's. Lay staff includes Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry Ryan Altenbach, Music Director / Organist & Choirmaster Larry Long, and part-time Office Manager Joan Smith.
- Pastor: Very Rev. C. Thomas Miles, KHS, MCL, JCL (appointed March 3, 2025)
- Deacon Paul M. Rosenblum, Ph.D. (ordained May 9, 2014; Apostleship of the Sea Port Minister)
- Deacon David Wagner (recently assigned)
- Ryan Altenbach — Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry
- Larry Long — Music Director, Organist & Choirmaster (843-813-3631)
- Joan Smith — Office Manager (part-time)
Outreach & Charitable Works
Beyond regular parish life, St. Mary's is the home base for the Diocese of Charleston's Apostleship of the Sea Port Ministry, led from the parish by Deacon Paul Rosenblum, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the North American Maritime Ministry Association. The parish participates in the broader diocesan charitable network (including Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other outreach efforts typical of Charleston parishes), and the Youth Ministry organizes regular service projects for middle- and high-school students.
- Apostleship of the Sea — Port Ministry, Diocese of Charleston
- Deacon Paul Rosenblum — diocesan Port Minister (full-time since 2017)
- Youth Ministry service projects
- Parish participation in diocesan charitable works
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
Parish offices are at 89 Hasell Street; the church entrance is at 95 Hasell Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (843-722-7696; [email protected]). The church is open for scheduled Masses and confessions; the historic graveyard is accessible from the surrounding sidewalks. Parking is available in the parish parking structure (built during the early-1980s Charleston Place redevelopment), with additional metered street parking nearby. The parish website (sma.church) hosts the bulletin, the staff directory, the OCIA and youth ministry pages, an extensive 'Our History' and 'Detailed Parish History' (with downloadable PDFs of parish-historian essays on the paintings, stained glass, and organs), and updates on the ongoing fourth major renovation.
- Address: 89 Hasell St. (offices) / 95 Hasell St. (church), Charleston, SC 29401
- Phone: 843-722-7696
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Wed & Thu 9:00–3:00; Fri 9:00–12:00
- Website: http://www.sma.church/
- Bulletin and detailed history pages available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Matthew (Fr.) Ryan1788–1789
Irish priest from the Diocese of Dublin, sent to Charleston in 1788 by Fr. John Carroll; rented a wood-frame building on Hasell St. for Catholic worship. Left Charleston in 1789 due to ill health.
- Rev. Dr. Thomas Keating1789–1793
Succeeded Fr. Ryan; oversaw the purchase of the Hasell Street property in 1789 that the parish still occupies. Fell ill and departed for Philadelphia in 1793, where he died, leaving the parish temporarily without a priest.
- Rev. Simon Felix Gallagher1793–c.1820s
Sent by Bishop Carroll to Charleston in 1793. Oversaw replacement of the original wood-frame building with a brick church in 1806. He guided the parish through the contentious trusteeship disputes that led to the 1816 interdict under Archbishop Neale.
- Bishop John England (as ordinary, not resident pastor)1820–1842
First Bishop of Charleston; took control of St. Mary's on Dec. 31, 1820. In 1822 he moved the cathedral function elsewhere because of ongoing conflicts, after which St. Mary's continued as a parish rather than the cathedral.
- Various parish priests under diocesan administration1820s–present
The parish has been served by a succession of pastors assigned by the Bishop of Charleston. (A complete name-by-name roster of pastors from 1822 onward was not located on the official website; the parish's official 'history' page lists early priests but not a continuous succession of modern pastors.)
- Very Rev. C. Thomas Miles, KHS, MCL, JCL2025–present
Appointed Pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation on March 3, 2025; also serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Charleston.