Among the relics found during the renovation of Trinity Cathedral was a live cannonball (r). Dr. Cantey Haile began his tour of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral relics with a large oak tree on Marion Street near the recently built Trinity Center. He started the story in 1984 when “we found what must have been a militia camp or early Confederate camp,” he said. They dug up a button from a Confederate soldier’s uniform, and several hundred feet away they uncovered some “Yankee buttons under a pecan tree in the courtyard.” Those buttons are now a small part of an archaeological timeline located on the ground floor of the Trinity Center.

Housed in a long floor–to–ceiling wooden cabinet are bits and pieces of history found during the beginning phases of construction on the Trinity Center, renovation of the Cathedral itself, and on the church grounds. Glass fragments from pepper sauce, soda, and wine bottles were unearthed from a large hole on the center site along with shards of bone from cows and other animals.

Dr. Cantey Haile explains that according to Walter Edgars’ research this reredos caused a scandal and was hacked away from the altar. On an adjacent shelf is a Civil War Era cannonball with an interesting history. Haile found the object on a dig, recognized it immediately, and took it home. “I was hitting it with a hammer while cleaning it when I found the fuse!” Haile said. “I stopped and had a friend professionally disarm it.” While digging with a potato rake at the same site, Haile found a cap and ball pistol that was made in Belgium.

In addition to relics of the city’s history, they also discovered interesting objects that tell stories from the church’s history. During an excavation into a space under the altar, large pieces of marble were found that were later revealed to be reredos, a decorative piece that is placed behind the altar. This was the cause of much church upheaval in the early 1900s.

This marble cherub offended members of the congregation and was thrown in the gutter during the Victorian period. Renowned historian and Trinity member Walter Edgar wrote a short piece that described the reredos’ history. According to Edgar’s research, the piece was purchased against the wishes of a small group of parishioners. The scandal eventually led to a man named Dr. Niles resigning and the reredos being “literally hacked away from the altar” and placed where it was later discovered. Although found in 1984, it was kept in the Parish House until it was restored in 2005.

The reredos isn’t the only controversial piece of church history on display. In a corner by the stairwell is a small white marble sculpture of a cherub mounted below the banister. It is an example of another bit of sanctuary décor that didn’t sit right with the congregation. It was found in many pieces in the attic of the late Jenny Dreher. “They were hung in the cathedral but sometime during the Victorian Era some members became offended by their anatomical correctness, and they were removed,” Haile said. The story goes that Jenny Dreher’s aunt picked this one up from the gutter where it was broken apart and discarded. It was recently restored and repainted to be put on display.

One of the old heart pine slats that formerly encased the belfries has been decorated. This one has a sold sign on it. Also in the wooden case are personal artifacts from Dr. Peter Shand, who was a rector for 52 years during the 1800s. Included are old pew markers from the days when members of the congregation could rent pews, a practice that was discontinued in the early 1900s, and a retired communion flagon. There is also a dedication to the Trinity Bazaar that’s 61st year was celebrated last November.

This is one of the pew markers used when families rented pews in the 1800s. In order to off–set the $6 million renovation of the cathedral, Trinity has been slowly selling off relics from the old building. Among those items that have been sold are cross figurines made with the decorative trim and nails from the old pews and some of the spires that reach eight–feet tall. “Of course most of them have pigeon damage,” Haile said with a laugh. “But some people are buying them as yard art.” One of the shorter spires is on display in the center.

Haile also saved many of the old heart pine slats that formerly encased the belfries. Some of them were painted by members of the church while others were left natural. Haile hopes to have a large relic sale once the congregation can resume worship in the renovated cathedral, tentatively scheduled for Easter.

Many relics are on display at The Trinity Center. For visitation times, see page 3. One of the highlights of the historical tour is a 19–panel timeline that begins with the establishment of the South Carolina diocese in 1785 and chronicles the cathedral’s history through the mid–2000s and is narrated by Edgar.

The Trinity Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am–1 pm and 4 pm–8 pm, Friday from 9 am–1 pm, Saturday from 8 am to noon and closed on Sundays.
Photos by Jim Covington
Trinity Cathedral dating back to the 1700s has a rich history that can be experienced in The Trinity Center. Photo by Jim Covington