The Story Behind These Haunted Church Ruins In South Carolina Will Send You Running For The Woods

For some, it comes as no surprise that the Palmetto State is as haunted as they say. Located along South Carolina’s most haunted road stands the ruins of a chapel of ease built in 1740. The ruins themselves even look haunted, but the stories people tell after visiting seem to confirm it. Plus, the old cemetery for the church has its own set of creepy tales. Read on to learn more.

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The St. Helena Parish Chapel of Ease was established within the parish for those people who were too far from the main parish to travel that distance each Sunday.

TripAdvisor/Jessica L

It opened in 1740 and burned in 1886, never to be rebuilt again. Currently it sits right off the main road, an eery reminder to locals of its spiritual past and haunted present.

Flickr/Long Thiên

Visitors to the ruins have reported hearing whispered prayers, hymns being sung and even disembodied voices.

TripAdvisor/Jessica L

Flickr/Alex Thompson

The odd paranormal activity extends beyond the walls of the old ruins into the adjacent church cemetery.

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It's here that so many were buried - and continued to be buried even after the church burned.

Flickr/Christos Tsoumplekas

People have admitted feeling cold spots in the heat of the summer. They also report suddenly feeling sick, and seeing an occasional apparition of a woman wearing a white dress.

TripAdvisor/tipijo

Perhaps the most famous haunting in this cemetery is the legendary story of the Fripp tomb. The wealthy couple was laid to rest here reportedly surrounded by their most prized possessions. But when the Union soldiers caught wind of the potential treasure they broke into the tomb and robbed it.

When caretakers tried to seal the tomb with a fresh row of bricks they returned the next morning to find the bricks neatly stacked in a pile next to the tomb's entrance. They repeatedly tried sealing the tomb only to find the bricks stacked, over and over. Eventually, the tomb was just left open. And that's how you'll find it today.

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Located on the most haunted street in the state, the ruins of the St. Helena Parish Chapel of Ease are a worthy stop for not only historians, but for adventure seeking ghost lovers far and wide.

Have you visited the ruins? We’d love to hear about your experiences! If you’re planning a visit, then you should read about the other paranormal things that happen on this haunting road in the Lowcountry. You’ll find a haunted fort and along the highway there is a mysterious light that’s rumored to be a headless soldier looking for the head he lost so long ago. Read more about those hauntings here.

Curious about more creepy things in our state? Driving down this Upstate road at night may give you nightmares!