Colonial-Era Churches in the Northern Neck of Virginia
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Colonial-era Churches in the Northern Neck of Virginia Spring 2017 Pilgrimage To Historic Sites “Christ Church is a historic Episcopal church in Lancaster County, Virginia, north of Irvington. Built in 1732-35, it is notable for its unique Georgian design, and is one of the best- preserved colonial churches in the southern United States. The church is the only colonial Virginia church that still has its original high-backed pews and one of two that has maintained its original three-tiered pulpit. Today, Christ Church is owned and operated as a museum by the non- profit Foundation for Historic Christ Church, which has almost completely restored its 18th-century appearance. The church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.” St. Mary’s Whitechapel, Lancaster, Virginia “St. Mary’s Whitechapel was named for a white “chapel of ease” outside London and for the church of that parish, St. Mary’s Church. Although the Colonial Virginia parish existed in 1657, the date of the founding of St. Mary’s White Chapel Parish is accepted as 1669, when Middlesex County was formed from the part of Lancaster County that lay on the south side of the Rappahannock River. On November 4, 1669, Captain David Fox in his will bequeathed 20 pounds sterling for the glazing of bricks and for other uses of St. Mary’s Whitechapel. Construction of a church building was started sometime prior to 1669. Records show that the church was “nearing completion” by 1675. Records also identify the builder, or “undertaker,” of the church as James Jones, the grandfather of President James Monroe. Originally the church was rectangular in shape. North and south wings were added in 1741 to accommodate a growing congregation, resulting in a cruciform or “cross plan” shape. The gallery in the south end was built at private expense by members of the Ball family; Mary Ball Washington was George Washington’s mother.” Cople Episcopal Parish – Yeocomico Church, Kinsale, Virginia “The church, built in 1706, or almost precisely a hundred years after the first settlement at Jamestown, takes its name from Yeocomico River, flowing into the Potomac and dividing Westmoreland from Northumberland. It stands near the Potomac shaded by trees and protected by a brick wall, the restoration of an old one, which even in 1857, according to Bishop Meade's testimony, was "mouldering away." The church also has been considerably restored, but it remains notable among Virginia Colonial churches for the curious roof lines created by a gentler slope and then a steeper slope in the gable, and for the porch on the T-side of the cross which has the same broken roof lines.” • Details (tentative): – Target dates are May 13 and 14, 2017 – Leave McLean by Noon on Saturday Proposed schedule Saturday 2 pm – 4 pm Christ Church – Separate cars, carpool, vans, or Museum, Weems, Virginia Saturday 4:30 -6:00 St. Mary’s bus (depending on interest and Whitechapel, Lancaster, including Evening Prayer service costs) Saturday 7:00 dinner together with guest speaker on history of area and – Overnight in Irvington, Virginia churches Sunday 10:30 Yeocomico Church (possibly at Tides Inn) Kinsale, Virginia and attend service at 11 am followed by visit with parish – Costs (TBD) for transportation, historian Sunday afternoon – return to McLean meals and lodging to be borne by participants Final schedule to be determined based on availability of sites and interest .