Tours of the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock will resume on March 15. The guided tours of the church and churchyard (cemetery) are led by church docents. “One of the joys of attending a beautiful holy place like St. John in the Wilderness is sharing it with our visitors. Our history is intertwined not just with the history of Flat Rock, but with that of coastal South Carolina, the home of our founders and earliest congregants,” said lead docent Polly Morrice.

Held on the third Saturdays of the month from March through December, tours start inside the Carriage Door entrance of the Church promptly at 11 a.m. and last about an hour. Additional tours are held seasonally on the first Saturday of the month from June through
September. There will be no rain dates and participants are encouraged to wear comfortable
shoes.

The tours are free but advance reservations must be made online through the church’s website, www.stjohnflatrock.org/tours.  Space is limited for each tour. The historically significant churchyard contains graves of distinguished political figures and
local citizens as well as those of unnamed 19 th -century enslaved persons. “As docents, we strive to communicate the sweep of what happened and how it shaped us, the good and the sometimes painful,” Morrice reflected. “We do like to remind visitors that St.
John is not a museum, but a vibrant, welcoming church. We’re still moving forward, and welcome all who would like to make more history with us.”

The church is located at 1895 Greenville Highway. For more information call the church office at 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.