FIRE TRIED GOLD, is a one hour television documentary history of the Catholic Church in South Carolina. The producers have recreated historical moments dramatically and carefully combined those moments with documentary research. The result is a television hour that tells the story of a people who, though small in number, have contributed significantly to the history of the ante-bellum South, the Civil War period and its aftermath, to the present day recovery.

Actor Steven Ryan portrays John England
The producers have traveled to Ireland to capture the early life of the Diocese of Charleston's first bishop, Bishop John England, and anywhere in the United States to meet with and help share the views of noted scholars and prominent Catholics such as S.C. Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal, Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, College of Charleston President Alex Sanders, renowned Lutheran theologian Martin Marty, Slaves in the Family author Edward Ball, South Carolina author Walter Edgar, and Rt. Rev. Francis Kline, Abbot of Mepkin Abbey.

FIRE TRIED GOLD explores the contrasts, witnesses with its cameras to the difficulty and the wonder of being Catholic in South Carolina, and leads the viewer on a faith journey with people who believe that faith in justice, a hope in the future and a concern for God and the people everywhere around them can change the face of the place where they live.

FIRE TRIED GOLD was sponsored by Larry and Beth Burtschy and family in thanksgiving for Bishop David B. Thompson's ministry as the eleventh Bishop of Charleston. It was produced by Paulist Father John Geaney, co-producer of the television documentary "Trappist" with WTVI-TV in Charlotte, N.C.

Executive Producer - John Geaney, CSP; Producer - Gonzalo Accame; Music by Michael Whalen; Written by: John Geaney, CSP and John Landers; Director of Photography: Bruce Liffiton; Narrator: Joel Krager.