About Saint Peter's Historic Chapel · Beaufort, South Carolina
Saint Peter's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Charleston, located in Beaufort, South Carolina, on the Lady's Island campus at 70 Lady's Island Drive. The parish traces its roots to a small 1846 Greek Revival church built by Irish immigrant Michael O'Connor on Carteret Street — today's Historic St. Peter's Chapel (710 Carteret Street), the ninth oldest Catholic church in the Diocese of Charleston. With approximately 2,150 registered families, the parish operates a Catholic school, perpetual Eucharistic adoration in Our Lady's Chapel, weekly Mass in English and Spanish, and a wide range of outreach, formation, and evangelization ministries including the Lowcountry Outreach Center opened in 2023. The parish is currently led by Father Andrew as pastor.
- Established
- 1846
- Patron
- St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles
- Rector
- Father Andrew
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charleston (Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina)
Why belong here
Saint Peter's offers the full life of a large Lowcountry Catholic parish in a friendly, welcoming setting: weekend Masses in English and Spanish, daily Mass in both the modern 1,200-seat church and the restored 1846 historic chapel, and perpetual Eucharistic adoration in Our Lady's Chapel. Families can send their children to the parish's Catholic school (founded 1991), adults can grow through small faith groups, Saint Paul Street Evangelization, or Reach More missionary training, and outreach-minded parishioners serve through ministries like the Lowcountry Outreach Center opened in 2023.
Mass times at Saint Peter's Historic Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Saint Peter's Main Church)
- Sunday: 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm (Holy Cross Mission, 1st Sunday of the month)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Our Lady's Chapel (enter chapel doors at rear of main church)
Parish History
Catholicism in the Beaufort area reaches back to 16th-century Spanish missions on Santa Elena (Parris Island). The parish's first church, built by Irish immigrant Michael O'Connor and dedicated in 1846, still stands on Carteret Street and is celebrated as the oldest Catholic church in Beaufort County. From those humble beginnings, the parish grew through the Civil War, served as a Beaufort mission until 1923, expanded its physical plant several times, moved to the Lady's Island campus in the 1980s–90s, and dedicated its present 1,200-seat church in 2006.
Historic St. Peter's Chapel (710 Carteret Street)
The original 1846 Greek Revival church was deeded to the bishop by Michael O'Connor and dedicated by Bishop Ignatius Reynolds on November 14, 1846, under the patronage of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. A 1857 brick wall by local craftsman Franklin Talbird surrounds the property, and a Gothic trefoil window was added in 1899. Fully restored in 2012–2013 under Fr. Paul MacNeil and the Historic Church Preservation Task Force, the chapel was blessed by Bishop Robert Guglielmone on February 22, 2013, and now hosts occasional weekday Mass (including Wednesday noon and 1st-Saturday 9:00 am), small weddings, funerals, and tours of the church and 19th–20th century graveyard.
- Greek Revival architecture (1846)
- Brick wall by Franklin Talbird (1857)
- Gothic trefoil window (1899)
- Restored 2012–2013
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Father Andrew as pastor, with Fr. Robert G. Galinac, OFM, in residence. The Evangelization office is led by Director Nancy Compton and Assistant Director Matthew Crews.
- Father Andrew — Pastor
- Rev. Robert G. Galinac, OFM — In Residence
- Nancy Compton — Director of Evangelization
- Matthew Crews — Assistant Director of Evangelization
Evangelization & Faith Formation
Evangelization is a flagship ministry at Saint Peter's, with multiple pathways for adults to grow in discipleship and share their faith. Small Faith Groups gather to share life and reflect on God's Word. Saint Paul Street Evangelization trains parishioners to share the Catholic faith in everyday encounters and at public events. Reach More Mission Training offers formation in prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and missionary community life.
- Small Faith Groups
- Saint Paul Street Evangelization
- Reach More Mission Training
Saint Peter's Catholic School
The parish school began in 1991 in the Education Wing of the main building and moved into its current dedicated school building in 1996. It serves as a key parish ministry, reaching area families with Catholic education for decades.
- School founded 1991
- Current school building completed 1996
Holy Cross Mission (St. Helena Island)
Holy Cross Mission on St. Helena Island was founded in 1967 by Fathers Burke and Tuchy. It is part of the Saint Peter's parish family and hosts the 4:00 pm Sunday Mass and Confession on the 1st Sunday of the month.
- Founded 1967 by Frs. Burke and Tuchy
- Sunday 4:00 pm Mass
- Confession 1st Sundays 3:15–3:45 pm
Outreach & Charity
The parish lives out the Gospel through service to the wider Beaufort community. In 2023, Saint Peter's opened the Lowcountry Outreach Center, a hub that enables other service organizations to assist those in need across the Lowcountry. The parish also coordinates prayer teams that pray with anyone who wants intercession after the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday Masses.
- Lowcountry Outreach Center (opened 2023)
- Prayer Teams after Sunday 9:00 am and 11:00 am Masses
Visit & Contact
Newcomers and returning Catholics are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed noon–12:30 pm for lunch) and Friday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Registration forms, prayer requests, and live-stream links are available on the parish website.
- Office: 843.522.9555
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stpetersbeaufort.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jeremia J. O'Connell1847–1848
First resident pastor; later author of Catholicity in the Carolinas and Georgia (1879).
- Fr. James Hasson
Attended the church during the Civil War; ministered to Union troops on Hilton Head.
- Fr. Martin Laughlin1986–
Led the move to the Lady's Island campus, the temporary church (1987), and began/expanded perpetual Eucharistic adoration.
- Fr. Ronald R. Cellini
Presiding pastor at the 2006 consecration of the present main church.
- Fr. Paul MacNeil
Administrator under whom the 2012–2013 restoration of Historic St. Peter's was carried out.