Is it weird to write a rec for a church? Yes…read more.. But as a Catholic, if you're traveling in the area, you might be a little hesitant to find a place for mass on Sunday (or Sat vigil). We visited here last year during a Sat vigil while engaged and preparing for our wedding. I was surprised for a couple reasons! It's a HUGE church! (I didn't think the area was that Catholic heavy!). The beauty of the church itself is worth a visit- I think it's Gothic Farmhouse style. Outside and inside there are many places to stop for prayer or reflection. Inside the lobby/narthex is a huge mural on the ceiling of St. Peter and St. Paul! (no- you're not in an Eastern Rite parish!). Lots of natural light and beautiful stained glass inside (not to mention I'm a sucker for the Shield of Trinity which is towards the front left!). The people themselves in the congregation are very warm and welcoming (you might think you walked into a Methodist church during the passing of the peace because everyone is so friendly). Best of all is Fr. Fabio, I think you can tell a lot by how a priest approaches the eucharist. Isn't this the precipice of the mass? He takes his time, so you can fully appreciate the beauty and mystery. If you get achy knees- you might want to sit instead of kneel- Father is not going to hurry. --- The second part of this review is the church as a space for a wedding. :) We loved the area so much- we decided to get married here! Michelle, the wedding coordinator was super helpful from a distance! She kept tabs on things very closely, but not overkill. I've been in wedding where the coordinator is crazy to work with- not Michelle! She was helpful, kind, and on point. A bonus of the church's beauty is we didn't need any decorations for the ceremony! I'd highly recommend this to any brides in the diocese especially who want to have a "destination wedding" in the area. I can't speak to having a reception here as we had it at a local restaurant/B&B (Bernie's!), but they do have a sizable fellowship hall!

Loved attending this church while we were on vacation! The congregation and the Priest were very…read morefriendly, warm and inviting! Definitely will attend this church next time we are in the area.

I wasn't here to attend services - Lutheran isn't my flavor - but I found myself on a quiet…read moreSaturday morning drawn to this magnificent building, eager to take in its craftsmanship and historical presence. Anna P. has already shared great photos of the adjacent cemetery, and I'll leave that to her, choosing instead to focus on the church itself. The marker tells the story. "On November 20, 1853, St. John's was organized by members of the German Colonization Society of Charleston, S.C. who founded the town of Walhalla in 1850. Services were originally held in a house on West Union which was purchased from Col. Joseph Gresham and belonged to Jacob Schroder. The present structure was begun in 1859 and dedicated on March 12, 1861." And the reverse, "John Kaufmann designed and directed the building of St. John's with the assistance of August Brennecke and members of the congregation. Most of the heart pine timbers were cut from the site on which the church stands. Many of the architectural features are distinctive and unique to St. John's. Except for the stained glass windows, placed in 1910, the church has changed little since 1861." It is officially designated as marker number 37-2, and it was erected in 1972 by the Oconee County Historical Society to commemorate the church's enduring legacy. Even without stepping inside, the structure speaks volumes. Its silhouette, materials, and setting all echo the story etched into the marker. [Review 1247 of 2025 - 1304 in South Carolina - 24799 overall]

Absolutely beautiful church and old historical cemetery. Worth a cemetery crawl for sure. The…read moregrounds are well kept and they do keep a weekly service there as well. Absolutely Stunning

We were visiting the area, needed to find a place of worship. Drove by this church and went online…read moreto listen to the sermons - we decided to attend the Sunday service. We didn't know what to expect - the parking lot looks pretty full but we were able to find a spot close to the back entrance. They had great classes for the kids, and when we went up to the chapel, we were greeted by a bunch of warm, welcoming people. The main pastor was among one of the people who greeted us. It felt like such a welcoming place from the get-go. The music was upbeat, modern yet with some traditional hymns. The crowd was of mixed-age people, and they are all very kind and welcoming to us. We also really loved the sermon by Pastor Swan. Other than making the scripture relatable to everyday living, Mr. Swan was definitely passionate about the scriptures and the teachings of Jesus. We'll continue to attend this church while we are in town.

My review is for the Lent Friday Fish Fry. I haven't attended service here. I've only come for the…read moredinner and it was delicious. It is set to begin at 5pm and there was a line already when we arrived at 4:50. That being said, parking can be a little tricky. Thankfully, we found a spot at the end of the block. The line moved quickly. We placed our order and waited about 15 minutes for the food to be prepared. We also got dessert and it was delicious as well

Excellent church. The parish will make you feel like a part of their family on your first time…read moreattending.

My wife and I visited this church while vacationing at South Cove County Park on Lake Keowee…read more Everyone from the time we arrived in the parking lot was friendly and welcoming. The worship and message were on point with our Christian values and it was refreshing to see a great number of young adults attending service. We'll definitely return to this church when visiting the area next.