SURVEY TO IDENTIFY HISTORIC CHURCHES & TEMPLES  

Preservation South Carolina wishes to determine if there are any "unknown" churches and temples that are eligible to be listed on the National Register. Over 100 such places are so listed.

The National Park Service, the organization that maintains the list, has stringent requirements. Religious history, alone, is not enough for inclusion in the National Register. Sacred spaces that are architecturally significant or ones that contribute to the history of the community, are eligible for a listing.

Prior to completing the survey, please read the helpful information from South Carolina Archives and History.

Completed surveys will allow us to make an initial assessment of those churches and temples that might be eligible for inclusion on the National Register. The next step will to gather enough information in order to complete a Preliminary Information Form, as required by the State Historic Preservation Office. Further discussion will then lead to a decision for possible inclusion on the National Register.

A listing on the National Register DOES NOT come with funding for repairs. It DOES help raise awareness about an at-risk property, and can help ensure a better future.