Sacred Grounds & Community Life
Welcome to the heart of St. John’s—where history, spirituality, and community come together in a truly unique way. Our sacred grounds offer a place for reflection, connection, and celebration. Walk the peaceful paths of our labyrinth, explore the history of our beloved cemetery, or experience the energy of our lively farmers market. Whether you seek quiet contemplation or vibrant community engagement, you’ll find it here. Come and discover all that makes St. John’s a special place to gather, reflect, and grow together.
St. John’s Labyrinth
St. John’s is more than a church—it’s a place where history, spirituality, and community come together in a meaningful way. Our sacred grounds invite you to reflect, connect, and experience the rich heritage that makes this place so special.
The Labyrinth: A Path to Reflection
Once used by medieval Christians for prayerful meditation, the labyrinth is a sacred tool for quieting the mind, opening the heart, and centering the soul. Unlike a maze, which is designed to confuse, the labyrinth has a single winding path leading to the center—helping you find your way rather than lose it. Whether you walk it in prayer, meditation, or simple curiosity, the labyrinth offers a journey of peace and discovery.
A Legacy of Faith & Resilience
For centuries, this land has been a place of deep spiritual significance, first for the Kiawah, Stono, and Bohicket peoples and later for generations of worshippers at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Since 1734, our congregation has endured wars, storms, and challenges, yet our mission remains steadfast: to be “A Place of Peace, a Place of Prayer, a Place of Care, and a Place for All.”
Whether you’re strolling through our historic cemetery, walking the labyrinth, or enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of our farmers market, we invite you to explore all that makes St. John’s a sacred and welcoming place.
St. John's Churchyard
St. John's Episcopal Church has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1734. The churchyard is the final resting place for many individuals who have been part of this community over the centuries. An ongoing project, the Gravesite Index, aims to document every grave and headstone within the cemetery. This initiative involves digitizing various church records and conducting a comprehensive inventory of grave sites and headstones. Each headstone's location is recorded using compass bearings and walking paces from a central compass rose within the cemetery.
The Gravesite Index is an ongoing project dedicated to documenting every grave, headstone, and its exact location within the St. John's Graveyard. This index has been carefully digitized from various church records and continues to be updated through an active inventory conducted by John L. Gervais III.
Each headstone's location is recorded using a compass bearing in degrees and paces from the compass rose, which is centrally located in the cemetery. For example, a listing of 180,10 means walking 10 paces in the direction of 180 degrees from the compass rose.
Click here to see the Regulations for Burials
Click here to see the Gravesite Index
Click here to see the Gravestone Photo Library.
For more information on this project, please contact Mr. Gervais at abacr@aol.com
St. John's Farmer's Market
The Market is open Spring - Fall
Thank you for a fantastic season!
We welcome you to fresh local produce, unique artisan goods, and delicious food trucks offered by local vendors.
Join us every Wednesday from 3:00–6:00 PM in the beautiful woods of St. John’s Grove, where you can shop, stroll, and soak in the community atmosphere - and hamburgers! Free entry, plenty of parking, and restrooms available!
Interested in becoming a vendor for the 2025 season?
Click here to fill out our our registration form to get started!
See you soon!
St. Brigid's Altar & Oyster Cross
The St. Brigid Altar and Oyster Shell Cross, dedicated on October 6, 2004, stand as a beautiful landmark at St. John's Episcopal Church, deeply reflecting the spirit of our Sea Island community. The altar, with its unique oyster shell cross, evokes the natural beauty and rich history of the Lowcountry. The oyster shells, repurposed from local sources, symbolize the connection between our faith and the land that surrounds us.
St. Brigid, one of Ireland’s patron saints, founded the first convent and abbey in Kildare, a place known as the "Church of the Oak." The oak tree’s wisdom and strength resonate with our own local tradition, as reflected in the altar’s design. In a similar way, the cross made of oyster shells speaks to the enduring strength of the Sea Islands, where the land and sea work together to support and nourish life.
This altar is not only a work of art but a testament to our church’s connection to the natural world, bringing a sense of peace, reverence, and unity to all who encounter it. It stands as a symbol of community, tradition, and faith, deeply rooted in the unique beauty of our surroundings, stunning in its simplicity.
Church History
Ben Schafer has dedicated the past year to uncovering and preserving the rich history of St. John’s. His research spans from creating a comprehensive guide to veterans buried in the churchyard to an in-depth study of the parish’s Revolutionary War history. He has also designed a church history webpage, soon to be live, detailing St. John’s journey from its founding in the 1730s to the present. His work continues to provide valuable insight into the church’s past, ensuring its stories are accessible for generations to come.
