Old Christ Church (Laurel, Delaware)

Old Christ Church
Christ Church in 1960
Location Southeast of Laurel at junction of Roads 465 and 465A, near Laurel, Delaware
Coordinates 38°33′40″N 75°32′16″W / 38.56111°N 75.53778°W / 38.56111; -75.53778Coordinates: 38°33′40″N 75°32′16″W / 38.56111°N 75.53778°W / 38.56111; -75.53778
Built 1772
Architectural style Georgian
NRHP Reference # 72000297
Added to NRHP April 13, 1972[1]

Old Christ Church, also known as Old Lightwood, is a historic Episcopal church near Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware. The 1772 church resembles its parent church, Green Hill Church of Stepney Parish in Wicomico County, Maryland, except that while Stepney was built in brick, Christ Church is of wood construction. Its weathered appearance gave rise to a nickname "Old Lightwood," although it now is painted barn red.

Old Christ Church, near Chipman's Mill (of which only dam remains)

The church was built by Robert Houston in 1772 and given by him to Stepney Parish. Originally called Broad Creek Chapel,[2] Christ Church was a chapel of ease for the northern part of the large Stepney Parish of the Church of England. At the time of the church's construction the area was claimed by the colony of Maryland. After clarification of the boundary via the Transpeninsular Line and Mason–Dixon line, four Delaware governors have been members: Nathaniel Mitchell, who is buried there, William B. Cooper, William H. H. Ross, and Elbert N. Carvel.[3]

The 40-foot (12 m) by 60-foot (18 m) church is located at the edge of Chipman's Millpond, now a local park. On the interior, only the window sashes are painted, and the pulpit stands on the middle of the north wall, with an altar at the east end. A gallery remains at the west end, reached by stairs. Box pews are high, with doors to each family section. The ceiling is a flattened barrel vault.[3]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[1] Services are held monthly in the summer and occasionally in the fall.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Staff (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Maynard, W. Barksdale (2008). "Western Sussex County". Buildings of Delaware. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-8139-2702-2.
  3. 1 2 Wilkie, Rea (1971). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination: Old Christ Church" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-05-14.

External links


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