Centuries of Tradition
Worship in the Bluffton area began with the establishment of St. Luke’s Parish in 1767, followed by the construction of a church near Pritchardville in 1787. Religious services on the May River’s “The Bluff” started in the early 1830s.
By the 1840s, Bluffton had grown into a summer retreat for local and inland planters and a ferry stop between Savannah and Beaufort. In 1842, a chapel was built near where The Church of the Cross now stands.
In July of 1854, construction of the present building began. Architect E. B. White designed a structure described then as a “handsome cruciform Gothic building,” which indeed it remains today.
Holy Honey
Attending services at the church before the renovations took place in 1990, could be risky. A portion of the northern wall of the church, built in 1854-57, had honey bees in residence. They were finally evicted in 1991-92 when a new copper roof was being installed. The beekeeper removed 48 colonies of bees.
The honey collected from the walls was originally sold to raise money for the church. A local beekeeper now provides the “Holy Honey” and we continue to sell the honey at the church to help fund women’s ministries and events.
Learn more about Holy Honey by reading a recent article from Local Life Magazine. Honey can be purchased during docent tours on the Historic Campus (Monday-Thursday from 11am-2pm) or at the Parish Offices at 491 Buckwalter Parkway (Monday-Thursday 9am-4:30pm).
Get Involved with Our Ministries
One of the most important ways to get connected at The Church of the Cross is to first become a member of our congregation. If you are not a member and you are interested in learning more about membership, please call the Parish Office (843.757.2661) and speak to Sue.
Membership begins with an informal meeting with clergy. The next step in getting connected would be joining a Bible Study or small group to be in community with other Believers.
The Church of the Cross Locations
The Church of the Cross is situated across 3 distinct campuses. View our locations below:
