I wasn't here to attend services - Lutheran isn't my flavor - but I found myself on a quiet Saturday morning drawn to this magnificent building, eager to take in its craftsmanship and historical presence. Anna P. has already shared great photos of the adjacent cemetery, and I'll leave that to her, choosing instead to focus on the church itself. The marker tells the story. "On November 20, 1853, St. John's was organized by members of the German Colonization Society of Charleston, S.C. who founded the town of Walhalla in 1850. Services were originally held in a house on West Union which was purchased from Col. Joseph Gresham and belonged to Jacob Schroder. The present structure was begun in 1859 and dedicated on March 12, 1861." And the reverse, "John Kaufmann designed and directed the building of St. John's with the assistance of August Brennecke and members of the congregation. Most of the heart pine timbers were cut from the site on which the church stands. Many of the architectural features are distinctive and unique to St. John's. Except for the stained glass windows, placed in 1910, the church has changed little since 1861." It is officially designated as marker number 37-2, and it was erected in 1972 by the Oconee County Historical Society to commemorate the church's enduring legacy. Even without stepping inside, the structure speaks volumes. Its silhouette, materials, and setting all echo the story etched into the marker. [Review 1247 of 2025 - 1304 in South Carolina - 24799 overall] read more

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Absolutely beautiful church and old historical cemetery. Worth a cemetery crawl for sure. The grounds are well kept and they do keep a weekly service there as well. Absolutely Stunning read more

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