Holy Waters of Charleston

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."