trinity episcopal cathedral

This gorgeous church is located in downtown Columbia and if you like architecturally beautiful churches and historically significant graveyards, you should visit. They also offer morning (8:00am) and evening prayer (5:00pm), Monday-Friday. Well worth an hour or two of your time to walk the grounds.

This lovely historic church is worth a visit, and it's graveyard is equally interesting and historic. There is a gift shop.

Just across the street from the State Capitol is this lovely old cathedral. If the front doors are locked, step around to the side door for entrance. Very historic; take time to read the plaques, look at the old photos, and examine the family plots in the graveyard next to the church.

I may have been fortunate to see the interior of this church. I happened to enter about 15 minutes after a mass had concluded, so the doors were still open. The interior is very impressive. It took me a while to find someone as I was hoping to photograph the church--and wanted to see the cathedral with the chandeliers lit. Eventually, I found someone to help me. He reluctantly allowed me to proceed--and kindly lit the church for me. He did tell me that the doors are generally locked.So, if you are fortunate enough to see the interior of the cathedral you are in for a real treat. But, you might have to visit the church during one of the daily masses to make that happen.

can get married in the chapel if church is too large - columbias answer to Duke Chapel in Durham - nice aesthetic for the city - fun going back into time

The highlight feature of the cathedral graveyard is, and always will be, the historic grave markers. There are other things to admire there, however, and the thing that impresses me most is the enormous tree in the northwest corner of the graveyard. Planted in 1814 near the site of the original church, this battered old live oak has hit the 200 year mark and entered its third century. And wow; is it ever big! The diameter of the trunk is mind-blowing (see photo), and its lower branches are as big around as most trees. The two younger “Sire Trees” on the church property have much growing to do before they reach that size. One of the tree’s huge branches collapsed some time ago, breaking some of the grave markers. You can easily see where the branch came off, and where the damaged grave markers were pieced back together and cemented.

This beautiful Cathedral is modeled after Britain's York Cathedral. The stained glass windows are outstanding. One is from Munich, Germany and several are Tiffany. Stop in the Cathedral's Bookstore and shop for unique items. The Cathedral's volunteers are helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. Ask for a tour of the Cathedral to learn its history. If you have time, spend some time in the Cathedral cemetery. For history buffs, it will be time well spent! A side note is that when General William T. Sherman's Union Army fired cannonballs toward Columbia during the Civil War, the cannonballs hit the exterior walls of the South Carolina State House and serendipitously protected the Cathedral from being hit.

Would have probably been something if it was open, otherwise just give it a drive by. The one plus was it is right across the street from the capital, so if not open you will not waste much time.

Last October I was walking around the Cathedral with my dog taking pictures for a Grad class, and was invited back the following weekend for the Blessing the Animals service. I didn’t go but I remembered how welcoming the parishioners were. This past Sunday I went to help my boyfriend pick up his rescued Bloodhound and we were our dogs in tow made it to the evening service. It was held outside right by the chapel. The service was lovely, the weather was crisp for fall in SC, and all of the animals were comical. If you like architecture, friendly people, and even your pets I recommend a stroll around the cathedral.

I could not enter the church itself because they were having a wedding and I wouldn't want to crash it. We walked around the grounds and read the headstones. So interesting even my two teenage children enjoyed the visit.

We stopped here to look at the windows, but got an added treat. A former rector of the church offered to show us around & give us the history of the building & the windows. We also got to hear the organ played as there were some students from USC who were there for a lesson.

When we travelled there the church was actually closed, but the building was beautiful from the outside as well. It is located next to the State House, so you can visit both of them if you get there. A short, but recommended attraction in Columbia!

Gorgeous cathedral. Music programs are very good. Adjacent cemetery is fascinating. Parking is plentiful.

One of the first churches built in Columbia, the Trinity Epscopal Cathedral is a unique historic as well as worship centered facility.

This is a nice old historic church, very big. The cemetery is interesting, with many local historical figures buried there.