Your Stay
Immerse yourself in our lavish and uniquely appointed venue + apartment suites for an unforgettable micro wedding experience.
The Concept.
Our venue is a former community church that has been completely renovated and transformed into 5 apartment units and a spacious lobby. Events at The Vestry may accommodate up to 75 people and is the ideal setting for intimate micro weddings, milestone birthday celebrations, family gatherings, bridal and groomsmen parties, film and photography sessions, and more. The best part? We are able to sleep up to 36 people, meaning your celebration may transition seamlessly from day to night for you and your closest friends and family.
When you book The Vestry, our space becomes your canvas to personalize and adorn as you envision, ensuring your event reflects your unique style and celebration story. We provide a warm greeting and starter amenities to kick off your festivities, otherwise, you are free to bring your vision alive!
The History
Built in 1955, The Vestry was originally constructed for The General Assembly of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith in Columbia’s historically African American Edgewood Neighborhood. Designed by African American architect Tom Scala and built using professional and donated labor within the community, the building was formally dedicated on February 27th, 1955.
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith ceased any operations out of 2439 Read Street around 2001 where it sat vacant for about 10 years thereafter. Renovations began under a City of Columbia Building Permit in 2011 and most of the historic materials were unfortunately removed from the church, including the original lectern, ceilings, pews, windows and doors. The current owners purchased the church in 2021 with the dream of converting it into apartment suites and renting them out as premiere furnished short-term rentals.
Since opening its doors to our first guests in May of 2023, The Vestry has hosted hundreds of stays and our initial micro wedding on New Years Eve. We are proud that this building has once again become a prominent landmark in the community and continues to bring faith, happiness and joy to its guests.
FAQs
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Maximum occupancy for any event including entertainment, catering, bartending and wait staff is 75 people.
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We have a dedicated off-street parking area directly behind the building for 10 standards size vehicles comfortably. We also have an agreement with the neighboring community to use several of their parking lot spaces adjacent to the west side of the building. Street parking is also allowed free of charge.
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Please reach out to us directly for any special requests or needs. Since there are 5 apartment units in The Vestry, we do usually require the entire venue to be rented for a special event.
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Our venue goes beyond the conventional by offering not just event space but also comfortable accommodations, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the festivities without the hassle of finding lodging elsewhere. Depending on availability and the nature of your event, we typically require a 2-night minimum stay, ensuring ample time for both celebration and relaxation. Pricing is determined on a case-by-case basis but our typical range is $3000-$6000 for rental of the entire facility for 1-3 nights. Please inquire about specific rates and availability.
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For the full building rental, there are 5 individual apartment suites.
The Alchemist: 3 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + sleeping loft, sleeps 10
The Carraway: 1 loft bedroom + 1 bathroom + sofa bed, sleeps 4
The Gypsy: 3 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + sleeping loft, sleeps 10
The Sherlock: 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + sleeping loft, sleeps 7
The Watson: 1 loft bedroom + 1 bathroom + sofa bed, sleeps 4
All 5 units provide a total of 12 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and sleeps 36 people overall.
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There is a main door at the front of the building which is the traditional fchurch entrance with grand double arched doors at the top of an exterior stair. Inside there is a central hallway that each apartment is accessed from and leads to the rear entry lobby and back doors to the parking area. The lobby has two Chesterfield style leather sofas, four armchairs, 4 side tables, a grand entr table, coffee bar and a spacious powder room.
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Yes! Fox News Nation’s 6-part documentary titled Fall of the House of Murdaugh filmed their interview with lead prosecutor Creighton Waters in The Gypsy Apartment at The Vestry.
The Vestry’s Gypsy Apartment as seen on Fox Nation’s 6-Part Series The Fall of the House of Murdaugh in 2023.
