Our History
1820 - Citizens of Charleston began a movement for the promotion of the Gospel among seamen.
1866 – Harriott Pinckney, bequeathed land at the corner of East Bay and Market Streets for “a church building for the worship of God requesting that “the seats of such church shall be appropriated to the free use of seamen frequenting the port of Charleston.”
1916 – The Church of the Redeemer Chapel and The Harriott Pinckney Home for Seamen was erected and the trustees of the Charleston Port Society and the Church of the Redeemer combined funds for support and maintenance. Both the home and chapel operated for almost 50 years.
1950’s – When the time in port changed from several days to only 6-12 hours, the dock location changed making it difficult for seafarers to get to the chapel . As a result, the trustees were forced to sell the buildings.
1821 – Incorporation of the Charleston Port Society whose mission was to raise money to purchase a building for use as a “Mariners’ Church” within the City of Charleston and a church building was erected at 50 Church Street, however, the building was destroyed in the Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886.
1916 – The Church of the Redeemer Chapel and The Harriott Pinckney Home for Seamen was erected and the trustees of the Charleston Port Society and the Church of the Redeemer combined funds for support and maintenance. Both the home and chapel operated for almost 50 years.
1950’s – When the time in port changed from several days to only 6-12 hours, the dock location changed making it difficult for seafarers to get to the chapel . As a result, the trustees were forced to sell the buildings.
October 2001 – A group of citizens formed the Charleston Port & Seafarers’ Society (ChaPSS) as a non-profit 501C3 ecumenical Christian organization. Since then a Center has opened at the Wando, North Charleston and Columbus Street Terminals.
Future plans - Charleston Port & Seafarers will be operating a new Seafarers Center at Hugh Leatherman Terminal when it reopens.
