Holy Waters of Charleston

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Bishop John England came to Charleston from Ireland in late December 1820. Father Joseph L. O’Brien was ordained a Catholic priest in 1912, and though he served nearly a century after England, his work seamlessly continued much that was started by Charleston’s first Catholic bishop. England brought with him a determination to devoutly serve the needs of the Diocese of Charleston, which included South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. O’Brien, with the help of Reverend James May, opened Bishop England High School and operated as the school’s rector for thirty-two years. England and O’Brien supported and promoted the Catholic Church in Charleston with fervor, bringing together a dedicated community. Author W. Thomas McQueeney details the commitment to service of two of Charleston’s most influential Catholic clergy.