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Battery Gadsden Cultural Center’s speaker events are free and open to the public.
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Thursday · November 12 · 6pm
at Sunrise Presbyterian Church
Bill Fitzpatrick
“South Carolina’s Sacred Spaces:
Seventy Churches and Temples That Helped Shape the State’s History and Culture”
Battery Gadsden Cultural Center invites the public to an engaging evening with Bill Fitzpatrick, preservation advocate, author, and photographer. Bill's presentation, titled “The Road to Taveau Church,” will explore the remarkable story of a forgotten South Carolina church and the efforts that brought it back from the brink of collapse.
In 2014, Fitzpatrick photographed Taveau Church, a deteriorating wooden church located along the west branch of the Cooper River. At the time, the building was largely forgotten, and the church’s National Register nomination offered only limited information about its history, noting that it was built in the 1830s and had a long association with Black Methodist worship.
Years later, when Fitzpatrick became board chair of Preservation South Carolina in 2021, he remembered the little-known church and recognized that it deserved a chance at preservation. What followed was a remarkable journey: a structure that had nearly collapsed is now nearly restored, and the story of Taveau Church has emerged as one of national significance.
Through photographs, research, and storytelling, Fitzpatrick will take attendees along the road that led from documenting a forgotten landmark to recognizing its historical importance and helping bring renewed attention to its preservation. His presentation will highlight not only the church itself but also the broader importance of protecting the places that hold the stories of South Carolina’s past.
Fitzpatrick’s interest in historic places grew from years of travel and exploration. Despite spending more than 40 years in business, he made time to seek out less-traveled destinations, eventually photographing more than 1,000 of South Carolina’s National Register landmarks. This experience fostered a deep appreciation for the state’s architectural heritage, particularly its rural churches and sacred spaces.
He is the author of "South Carolina’s Sacred Spaces" (2019), a coffee-table book celebrating the state’s historic religious landmarks, as well as "Destination India, Destiny Unknown: A Three Week Journey Beyond the Taj and Behind the Symbols" (2009) and "Bottoms Up, America! (1996).
Fitzpatrick has contributed extensively to historic preservation through his writing and leadership. He wrote monthly columns about South Carolina’s sacred spaces for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and contributed stories about forgotten landmarks for South Carolina’s National Heritage Corridor.
In addition to serving as a past board chair and current board member of Preservation South Carolina, Fitzpatrick is the current board chair of the Upcountry History Museum.
Battery Gadsden Cultural Center is pleased to welcome Fitzpatrick for a presentation that brings together history, photography, and the power of preservation. The story of Taveau Church reminds us that even places that have been overlooked for generations can hold extraordinary historical significance and deserve to be remembered and protected.
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Your Opinion
Your opinion matters when it comes to our programming. What would you like to see in the way of programs and activities? Our Board of Directors would love to hear from you about any topic, but especially new ideas for programming. This becomes especially important as we see the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding rapidly approaching. BGCC is serving as the liaison between the town and SC250 Charleston, the local planning committee for all events we hope to have happen between 2025 and 2033, covering eight years of celebration, the same length of time as the American Revolution. If you’re not familiar with the work of this group or its parent organizations, America250 and SC250, be sure to check our their websites. The goals of this group are very similar to BGCC’s: preserving our shared history, providing inclusive events and programs, and bettering the fabric of our communities. Please be in touch with us regarding your ideas.
Our Purpose
Battery Gadsden Cultural Center, a non-profit established in 1992, seeks to share the rich history of Sullivan’s Island through lectures and performances. We hope to create a museum of the civilian life of Sullivan’s Island. We host community events and wish to serve as a showcase for artists, lecturers, musicians, and performers.
Our local publication, "Sullivan’s Island Magazine," wrote about us in its Winter-Spring 2018-2019 issue. Click here to read an article about the Battery Gadsden Cultural Center.
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Throughout the year we organize and sponsor a variety of events... Carolina Day, Oral History Project, Theatrical Performances, Speakers, Preservation, Art Exhibits, Book Signings, and more!
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