Special Guests Tour St. Philip’s in Conjunction with the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution

The official celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is swiftly approaching, and St. Philip’s recently had the opportunity to give tours of the church and graveyard to two groups of special guests interested in the role of our church and its congregation in the Revolutionary War and the founding of our nation.

The first group consisted of four visitors from France, Comte (Count) Humbert de Beaumont d’Autichamp and his wife Anne, and Régis Aubergy-Brossier, Baron de Laroullière, and his wife Isabelle, who were making a visit to several key locations in the U.S. commemorating the role of the Marquis de Lafayette in the American Revolution. Comte d’Autichamps is the great-great-great-great-great grandson of Lafayette, and he and the Baron de Laroullière are members of the French Society of the Cincinnati, composed of descendants of officers who fought for the Patriot cause in the American Revolution. They were deeply moved by the stories of the Patriots of St. Philip’s in the American Revolution.

Comte Humbert de Beaumont d’Autichamp, a descendent of Marquis de Lafayette.

The second group came to us from Johnakin Middle School in Marion County, South Carolina, and they were led by St. Philip’s member Linda Dennis, who had worked with them to put on a theatrical production at their school about Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, a hero of the American Revolution. The students, whose various roles in the play included Christopher Gadsden, William Moultrie,  Rebecca Motte, and several others with strong St. Philip’s connections, were fascinated by the opportunity to learn about the church and its history and the role their characters had played in the congregation and the Revolution.

St. Philip’s has a number of events and activities planned in celebration of this special anniversary, including a talk given by the Rev. Brian K. McGreevy between services on June 29 and two “open-house” days with tours and presentations on June 27 and 28. Join us to learn about St. Philip’s very important role in the American Revolution!