Is there anything more hauntingly beautiful than the dusty ruins of a 19th century church? South Carolina has more of them than you can count on two hands and viewing each one is part inspirational – and part eerie. That’s positively the case with the ruins of Old Gunn Church in Plantersville.
Visiting this relic in Georgetown County may even send a chill or two up your spine — even if you don't believe in ghosts.
Begun in 1859 to replace a smaller, insufficient church on the same property, Old Gunn Church was and is officially known as Prince Fredericks Chapel. It took more than 16 years for the church to be completed and in the early spring of 1879 it was consecrated.
The church served the many wealthy rice planters that once occupied the banks of the Pee Dee River.
But after rice growing took a bit of a downward turn, the church began to fall into disrepair. By 1966, the majority of the structure was deemed to be unsafe and all parts but the west-facing wall and the church's tower were demolished.
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What used to be the entrance to the church through the ground floor of the bell tower now leads to a hollow field where the former structure was declared sacred more than 140 years ago.
It's an overwhelming sadness that many people feel almost immediately when stopping to see the ruins. And it's due, in part, to the reason Prince Frederick Chapel is also called Old Gunn Church.
The two contractors for Old Gunn Church were Philip and Edward Gunn.
During the 16-year construction of Prince Frederick Chapel, one of them (although it's unclear which Gunn) was on the steeply pitched roof inspecting the tower and fell to his death.
It's rumored that ever since Gunn fell off the roof and died only inches from the church, his screams heard while falling are stuck in a time warp and are occasionally heard by visitors.
If you visit Old Gunn Church (a.k.a. Prince Frederick Chapel) know that a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire surrounds the property for your safety and to also preserve the ruins. Trespassing is not only ill-advised, it's also illegal. However viewing the ruins of the church from outside the fence is perfectly acceptable.
Do you believe in ghosts and have you ever visited Prince Frederick Chapel (a.k.a. Old Gunn Church) in Plantersville? We’d love to know if you felt (or heard!!) anything haunting while you were there!
Want to see another site with historic church ruins in South Carolina? Keep reading to learn about the St. Helena Parish Chapel of Ease.
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