Church of the Good Shepherd
Why it's listed
Set on a shady knoll among native rhododendron and flame azaleas near Cashiers, this white weatherboarded Gothic Revival church was dedicated in 1895. It replaced an earlier building destroyed by fire in 1892. The rectangular nave has a steeply pitched roof, pointed arch windows, lancet windows with rondels at each end, and a three-sided chancel. Inside are oak pews, massive pegged oak trusses, bead board walls and stained glass. A freestanding bell tower holds a bell cast in Baltimore in 1882. The church grew out of a summer colony of South Carolinians, most notably the family of General Wade Hampton, who helped pay for both buildings and donated the bell. After standing idle in the early twentieth century, it was restored in the 1920s and later added year-round services. A one-room vestry and office wing was built in 1985, and a small cemetery lies behind the church, with graves dating from 1886 and 1888.
Significance in brief: The church is tied to western North Carolina's nineteenth-century role as a summer retreat for wealthy, largely Episcopalian South Carolina families, notably the General Wade Hampton family, who funded the buildings and donated the bell. It is also a well-crafted example of Gothic Revival church architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000317, listed February 20, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 107 at SR 1118, Cashiers |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | February 20, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000317 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a church, in excellent condition and meticulously maintained; a vestry and office wing was added in 1985. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 35.09717, -83.08527 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000317.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117859
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.