IMPORTANT UPDATE….DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER FORECASTS THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL TUESDAY, JANUARY 28! SAME TIME AND LOCATION.
In 1949, Henry and Clare Booth Luce decided to take their leave of historic Mepkin Plantation. Wishing to give back to the Catholic church, an organization that had nurtured Clare after the death of her daughter, the couple donated over 3,000 acres of land that led to the establishment of Mepkin Abbey. Now 75 years later, the Trappist monks are still living and worshipping in accordance with the rules of their Order, one of which is an appreciation and reverence for the land that on which they live.
The land on which Mepkin Abbey stands is within the Cooper River Historic District, a land mass central not to just our state’s history, but our nation’s history. Unlike its historical sister, the Ashley River, there are no grand plantations that can be toured, no fancy lodging for the weary, or restaurants for the hungry; the only community places where the long history can be felt and told are its astonishing and diverse collection of small and underappreciated churches.
Join David George of Mepkin Abbey, Bill Fitzpatrick of Preservation South Carolina, and Cynthia Gibbs of the Taveau Legacy Committee on January 21, from 7 – 8 pm, at Church of the Holy Spirit on Daniel Island to learn how the effort to preserve Taveau Church, which is the only National Register landmark associated with Black History in all of Berkeley County, led to the creation of the Berkeley County Sacred Corridor Task Force
The group will share their plans to preserve, protect, and use for public good, the historic churches that are within or near the Cooper River Historic District. This free program is hosted by the Daniel Island Historical Society. Church of the Holy Spirit is located at 299 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island.
SPEAKERS’ BIOS:
David George
David George has been friends with the Trappist Monks of Mepkin Abbey since 1990, when he first arrived in SC. He is a registered nurse and has been the monks’ lead healthcare agent since 2005. In 2020, he expanded his role to become a client guide for the monastery’s columbarium ministry. Throughout his time with the monks, David has become involved in Mepkin’s conservation initiatives and efforts to preserve the land and historical sites, including Taveau Church, the African American Cemeteries, and the Sacred Corridor project. David lives in Mt. Pleasant with his wife and two sons.
Bill Fitzpatrick
Bill Fitzpatrick, who is the past board chair of Preservation South Carolina, is an accomplished businessman, writer, photographer, and public speaker. His books include Destination India, Destiny Unknown: A Three Week Journey Beyond the Taj and Behind the Symbols (2009), Bottoms Up, America! (1996), and his most recent effort, South Carolina’s Sacred Spaces (2019). Additionally, Bill has written columns for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the South Carolina’s National Heritage Corridor, the Charleston Mercury, and Khabar, a regional Indian-American magazine headquartered in Atlanta.
Cynthia Gibbs
Cynthia Gibbs is the chair of the Taveau Legacy Committee, a group that wishes to preserve Taveau Church, the only National Register Black Landmark in Berkeley County. She expends tireless efforts to promote Taveau’s restoration, raise funds, and engage local churches, community groups, and preservation and conservation groups in the effort to save this historic church. She heads the project to capture and record Taveau’s Oral History and collect and preserve artifacts from its past. She is a Charleston Southern University graduate, Air Force retiree (Lieutenant Colonel), and former small business owner
Can’t wait to learn more about the Sacred Corridor and the efforts to preserve it? To take a look at the Berkeley County Sacred Corridor Task Force website CLICK HERE.
And don’t forget to mark your calendar……..
