If the hallowed grounds of the Old Churchyard cemetery at the Parish Church of St. Helena (Episcopal) could talk, they would tell the long, storied history of not only the church but of Beaufort itself.
In the 1987 publication, “Old Churchyard: St. Helena’s Episcopal Church,” Lawrence Rowland, associate professor of history at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, called the cemetery “one of the most historic graveyards in America.”
Bob Barrett, the church’s archivist and member, and chair of the Old Churchyard Committee, couldn’t agree more. The cemetery was founded in 1724 — 12 years after the church’s founding and 13 after Beaufort was founded.
I have visited this lovely grave yard. My understanding is that it is a grave yard if within chruch grounds and a cemetary if not. Am I correct? In fact, I think it was someone at St. Helena’s that told me that as there is also a cemetary across the street and I was confusing the terms.
…. oops need spell check! “cemetery”!