The Floating Church

Swan Quarter is a charming coastal North Carolina village that serves as the county seat for Hyde County. Though modest in stature, it is by no means hidden from the sight of God as indicated by local tradition.


It was in the 1870’s that local Methodists in the village decided to work together on constructing a church for their worship services. Their hopes were to acquire the highest ground in the sea-level village. The building committee of the church approached the owner of the most suitable vacant lot and offered to purchase it.


The owner, Samuel Sadler, declined to sell to the church, indicating his desire to use it for his own plans and would not sell at any price to the church. While disappointed, the church members chose an alternative, but less suitable site for their church and began to build.


It would be in September of 1876 when the church was nearly completed. Before its dedication, a violent hurricane blew in off the ocean and flooded Swan Quarter with considerable water from the sound. It was then, that many say a miracle occurred and one that has been long remembered.


As the tempest winds blew their mightiest, the foundation of the unfinished church gave way and was lifted by the floodwaters. According to local tradition, citizens watched in awe as the little Methodist church floated like a ship and move from its lot. It is said that the church floated down the street, passing houses and storefronts and made a right turn at an intersection amidst the winds, rain and floodwater. It moved upon the highest vacant lot in the village, the very same land that the church had requested to purchase from the unwilling property owner. Before it settled, it is said to have miraculously rotated around to face the street and there is would stay.


By 1881, the church had acquired the lot where the members had originally wanted to build the sanctuary and the little church that God divinely guided to that site inspired the name, “Providence United Methodist Church.” The church’s membership had grown considerably by the 1900’s. In 1913, a brick sanctuary was built to replace the original frame structure.


Today, the small frame church sits behind the modern brick sanctuary of the Providence United Methodist Church on Main Street in Swan Quarter and serves as church classrooms.