An island church on John Joyner Smith's plantation on Port Royal, photographed around 1865 and destroyed before the turn of the century, probably served as a place of worship for slaves. Buildings similar to this one are also described as "praise houses." Sometimes built by plantation masters, who regarded Christianity as a stabilizing influence over slaves, these simple worship structures later became important sources of leadership and community among freed African-Americans.
Courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library.
