Charleston is famously known as the Holy City. And if you happen to be in the Holy City, why not walk down haunted Church Street and visit St. Philip’s Episcopal Church?
They were founded in 1680, making the congregation the oldest in the United States south of Virginia. In the 17th century, the first tower of St. Philip’s stood at the southeast corner of Broad and Meeting Street before expanding to a new and larger building in 1723.
According to Denise Roffe in her Ghosts and Legends of South Carolina 2nd edition book, By 1850, Charleston was expanding and needed the church to move over twenty-five feet to extend Church Street. St. Philip’s refused, forcing the hand of the city to divert around the church. However, the graveyard was in the way. City officials decided to move the markers and headstones as they continued construction but left the bodies behind under the street.
And yes, as you might expect, the cemetery is allegedly haunted. Much like many other cemeteries in the Charleston area, the graveyard at St. Philip’s has several long-term residents who are said to walk amongst the living today. One ghost who walks the grounds is said to be Sue Howard Hardy.