From the back of a cannon in Fort Sumter, the historic church steeples of Charleston are clearly visible across the harbor poking through the traditional geometry of historic buildings. Few taking in this view know about the one steeple that disappeared from the landscape over a century and a half ago.

On December 11, 1861, a fire broke out in a factory on Hasell Street, destroying much of Charleston including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Fund-raising for a new Cathedral continued for the next 45 years, and the cornerstone for the present Cathedral was laid in January 1890. The Gothic architecture called for a spire, but due to lack of funds, it was never built.  

“The Virtue of Patience” chronicles the long and arduous journey leading up to the cathedral adding its own steeple and bells and heralding its own call to pray throughout the city.  Although “The Virtue of Patience” will only be available as a bonus short film with “Charleston - The Soul of a City,” the studio will complete editing in 2010 and make it available to educational institutions, historians and members of the Cathedral of St. John. To make your request please contact the studio.

Slave badges were used in Charleston, SC, for a number of years in the eighteen hundreds as a type of annual license that permitted slaves to hire out their time for money, which was then shared with the slaves' owners. Owners of slaves wishing to rent out their slaves, or slaves with extra time available to hire themselves out, were required to pay an annual tax to the City of Charleston. Proof of payment was shown by the wearing of Slave Tags, with stiff fines for non-compliance. The badges were made of metal with the year, number of the badge, and a job category Occupations included Porter, Mechanic, Fisherman, Fruiterer, House-Servant, Carpenter, Huckster. There were other reported occupations but to date no verfication has been found.