Old Christ Church (Laurel, Delaware) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Christ Church
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Christ Church in 1960
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southeast of Laurel at junction of Roads 465 and 465A, near Laurel, Delaware |
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| Built | 1772 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000297 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1972 |
Old Christ Church, also called Old Lightwood, is a very old Episcopal church building. It is located near Laurel, Delaware. This church was built in 1772.
It looks a lot like its "parent" church, Green Hill Church in Maryland. However, Green Hill Church was made of brick. Old Christ Church was built with wood. Its old, weathered look gave it the nickname "Old Lightwood." Today, the church is painted a barn red color.
Contents
History of Old Christ Church
When the colony of Maryland first created its church areas in 1692, Laurel did not exist. Some reports say that the last Native Americans in Delaware left the Chipman's Pond area in 1748. This area later became the site of Christ Church.
Building the Church in 1772
By 1772, a small community had grown in the area. It included a mill, a store, some houses, and an iron factory. The large Stepney Parish of the Church of England collected money from people. Robert Houston then built this church. It was a "chapel of ease" for people in the northern part of the parish. People often called it "Broad Creek Chapel."
Boundary Disputes and New Beginnings
At first, both Maryland and Delaware claimed this area. It was a remote place known for its tall pine trees. This disagreement led to the creation of the Transpeninsular Line and the Mason–Dixon line. These lines clearly showed that the church was in Delaware.
After this, Old Christ Church became known as the "Mother Church" for Western Sussex County, Delaware. In 1821, Reverend Daniel Higbee became the leader for this church and four others. St. Peter's Church in Lewes, Delaware paid him $180 each year. Old Christ Church and three other churches paid him $120 annually.
These other churches included Prince George's Chapel in Dagsboro, Delaware. It started in 1755 and was also part of the boundary dispute. The others were St. Paul's Church in Georgetown, Delaware, and St. George's Chapel. St. George's Chapel was about 9 miles south of Lewes.
Growth and Important Members
At one time, people paid five dollars a year to have a seat in this church. This church also helped start several other churches. These include St. Phillips in Laurel in 1834 and St. Luke's in Seaford, Delaware in 1835. It also helped form St. John's Little Hill, St. Mark's in Millsboro in 1848, and All Saints in Delmar in 1886. This happened when the railroad came to the Delmarva Peninsula, bringing more people and money to the area.
Four governors of Delaware were members of Old Christ Church. They were Nathaniel Mitchell, who is buried there, William B. Cooper, William H. H. Ross, and Elbert N. Carvel.
Architecture and Design
The church building is about 40 feet (12 meters) wide and 60 feet (18 meters) long. Its outside has been repaired and painted. Old Christ Church is special because its inside is still very simple and original. It is one of only about a dozen churches on the Atlantic Coast that have never had plumbing or electricity added.
Only the window frames are painted inside. The pulpit, where the speaker stands, is in the middle of the north wall. The altar is at the east end of the church. The pews, which are like benches, are tall and have doors for each family's section. Names were written on them with chalk. The ceiling is shaped like a flattened barrel.
There is also a balcony, called a gallery, at the west end. You can reach it by stairs. This gallery was once used by enslaved people and free Black people. It had seats but no backrests.
Current Status
Old Christ Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it is recognized as an important historic site. Services are held at the church once a month during the summer. They are also held sometimes in the fall.
See also
- Chipman's Mill was located across the dam from the church.
