Pastor Tripp Jeffords serving dessert
It’s that time of year when the flowers bloom, the Flowertown Festival is close and St Paul’s Tea Room is the go to place for lunch for two weeks. If you’ve never been, it’s delightful. That’s the best word I can use to describe it. They have live music playing, fresh flowers on the tables and homemade food to include their famous tomato pie, she-crab soup, and a variety of salads and sandwiches. You’ll definitely want to save room for their desserts though. The women in the church (and some men I’m sure) make them fresh every night. Hummingbird Cake, Huguenot Tort, and all sorts of pies are a regular on the menu.
The Tea Room is an event that brings the church together as well as the community. People talk about how they go every year, some from as far as Columbia and Georgetown. In addition to the good food, they have a gift shop that sells hand made goods. Women in the church work year round making things to sell at the gift shop. You’ll find everything from jewelry to hand knit wash towels to painted pictures, amazing photography, quilts, kids dresses, and so much more.
Purpose of the Tea Room
All the money that is raised, 100% of it, is given to different charities. This year includes Impact Ministries Food Distribution, Dorchester Habitat for Humanity, Dorchester County Community Outreach, Salvation Army, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Water Mission, and dozens more helping organizations at home and abroad. Since they first started the tea room in 2005, they’ve raised and donated more than $600,000 locally, regionally and globally.
Dates to Visit
This year the dates are March 25th to the 29th and April 1st to the 5th. Doors open at 11:30am and close at 2pm. It’s at St Pauls in Doar Hall at 316 W Carolina Avenue. If you have more than eight in your party, you may want to make reservations. They also have takeout orders. Call 843-873-1991. Don’t miss it! (Check out St Paul’s Tea Room dates for next year here)