On Saturday, April 19, Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site will host an 18th century-inspired Easter Litany sunrise service in the ruins of St. Philips Church. Doors will open at 6:15 a.m. and the period Anglican service will begin at 6:45 a.m. The service will be held rain or shine and is expected to last 30 minutes. Seating will not be provided but visitors are encouraged to bring a chair, if needed.
Begun in 1754 and consecrated in 1768, St. Philips Church survives today as a ruin. It was the largest church in North Carolina at one time and among the finest in colonial America. The brick structure was more than 76 feet long and 53 feet wide. Its walls were nearly three feet thick and surviving portions stand more than 24 feet high. They once supported an arched wooden ceiling and a belfry above the roof. The church was only occupied for eight years and was set on fire by the British during the American Revolution. Nearly a century later, in the waning days of the Civil War, the abandoned walls of St. Philips were fired upon during the 1865 siege of Fort Anderson. Remarkably, the structure sustained little damage from the bombardment.
Admission to the service is free but donations are appreciated. After the service, the site will remain open until 5 p.m. Parking is available at the state historic site, located at 8884 St. Philip's Rd SE, Winnabow, North Carolina.
About Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site is a major pre-Revolutionary port on North Carolina's Cape Fear River, Brunswick was abandoned and burned during the American Revolution and never fully recovered. During the Civil War, Fort Anderson was constructed atop the old village site, and served as part of the Cape Fear River defenses below Wilmington before the fall of the Confederacy. Colonial foundations dot the present-day tour trail, which crosses the earthworks of the Confederate fort. The site is located at 8884 St. Philip's Rd SE, Winnabow, NC 28479. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/brunswick-town-and-fort-anderson/plan-your-visit or call (910) 371-6613.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.