Entry No. 37 — the Charleston file — filed under: haunted

Saint Helena Parish Chapel of Ease Ruins

Built around 1740 using tabby construction, this Anglican chapel served planters on Saint Helena Island who lived too far from the parish church in Beaufort. It was abandoned during the Civil War when Union forces occupied the island, and was later gutted by a forest fire in 1886. Today, its remarkably intact tabby walls, plaster fragments, and an adjacent historic cemetery—including a famously 'haunted' mausoleum—remain standing.

The move: Stroll through the shaded grounds to admire the 18th-century tabby architecture, photograph the open-air ruins, and explore the historic cemetery.

📍 Before you go The ruins are managed by the Parish Church of St. Helena and are legally open to the public for self-guided visits during daylight hours.

• 📍 St Helena Island
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: St Helena Island, SC 29920, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · scpictureproject.org · Atlas Obscura

last checked: 2026-07-20