All Saints School

If you’re ever cruising down Highway 17 in Pawleys Island, you can’t miss the stunning white steeple of All Saints Church. It’s one of those places where you can practically feel the history radiating off the old brickwork and moss-draped oaks. The church’s roots go way back to 1767, serving the wealthy rice planters who settled the Waccamaw Neck. Back then, it was the center of social and spiritual life for the local aristocracy. But here’s the kicker: the beautiful sanctuary you see today isn’t the original. The parish has actually had four different buildings! One was lost to a fire in the 1940s, and another was essentially dismantled and moved. Walking through the cemetery is like reading a "Who’s Who" of South Carolina history. You’ll find the final resting places of governors, influential families, and even the legendary Alice Flagg—the Lowcountry’s most famous ghost. The Legend of Alice Flagg The story follows Alice, a young woman from the wealthy Flagg family who lived at The Hermitage in Murrells Inlet during the mid-19th century. She fell in love with a man of a lower social class, and after their secret engagement was discovered by her brother, she was sent to boarding school in Charleston. Alice soon fell ill and was brought home, but she passed away shortly after her brother reportedly took and discarded her hidden engagement ring. The "Alice" Marker: Visitors often flock to a plain marble slab in the churchyard inscribed simply with "Alice." While legend suggests this is her final resting place, many church records and historians believe it is a commemorative stone for another family member, noting that the Alice of the legend may actually be interred in an unmarked grave at a nearby church. Spirit Sightings: Locals and tourists frequently report seeing a ghostly figure in a white dress wandering the cemetery or the grounds of The Hermitage. She is often described as clutching her chest or searching the ground, supposedly still looking for her lost ring. Visitor Rituals: It has become a tradition for people to leave small tokens, flowers, or even rings on the "Alice" marker. A popular superstition claims that if you walk around the grave a specific number of times, you might feel a tug on your own ring or experience a supernatural encounter.

The very first ghost story I was told as a kid was about Alice and at the ripe age of 8,at midnight, my dad brought my brother and I to her grave. Since then it has become a tradition to go see her. This time around I left with a gift: a broken pinky caused by the high wind swinging the rod iron gate on it. Thanks, Alice! Sorry I didn't have a ring to give you.

My daughter and I went originally looking for an old legend about Alice but we were installed by the beautiful church and cemetery. I loved the Spanish moss and ethereal atmosphere. We stopped at each stone and gave our respects.

We went to see Alice's grave, but appreciating the rest of the cemetery was icing on the cake

Warm and welcoming. Wonderful biblically based community. Spirit-filled congregation.