St. Mary's, Whitechapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Whitechapel |
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photograph of St Mary's Whitechapel taken in 2009
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| Location | 5940 Whitechapel Road Lancaster, Virginia |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| Website | www.stmaryswhitechapel.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1669 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Colonial |
| Years built | 1675 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary's Whitechapel |
St Mary's Whitechapel is an Episcopal church located in Lancaster, Virginia. It was started in 1669. The church is about three miles south of Lively, in Lancaster County. This area is known as the Northern Neck of Virginia.
A cool fact about St Mary's Whitechapel is that Mary Ball Washington, the mother of George Washington, went to this church when she was young.
Contents
History of St Mary's Whitechapel
In April 1657, the government of the Virginia Colony, called the Colonial Assembly, divided the church area north of the Rappahannock River. This created two church areas, or parishes. The upper part became St. Mary's Whitechapel. The lower part became Christ Church (Lancaster County, Virginia). People think the church was named after the Whitechapel area in London, England. In 1752, these two church areas were joined together. However, they still used two different church buildings and had separate groups of leaders.
Building the Church
St. Mary's church was built in a simple but elegant style. This style was common for churches in Virginia during the 1600s. Building the church began around 1675. This was possible because a local farmer named David Fox left money for it in his will.
As more people moved to the area, the church needed to be bigger. In 1741, the original rectangular building was changed. It became a cross shape by adding new sections to the north and south sides.
Changes Over Time
After the American Revolution, the Anglican Church (which the Episcopal Church came from) was no longer the official church. Many churches closed down. St. Mary's church was left empty for about 20 years. Its inside was damaged, and the east and west parts of the church fell apart.
Around 1830, the north and south sections were fixed. This made the church a rectangular shape again, but it was turned sideways from the original building.
Old Church Treasures
St. Mary's has some very old items. The oldest is a silver cup, called a chalice, given by David Fox Sr. in 1669. Inside the church, there is a plaque with the Ten Commandments. This plaque dates back to 1702, also from a gift by David Fox.
On each side of the Ten Commandments, there are plaques with the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. William Fox gave these in 1710. William Fox also gave a special bowl for baptisms in 1718. These items are thought to be the oldest of their kind in Virginia.
Reopening and Modern Times
The church reopened in 1832. To celebrate, Rawleigh William Dowman donated a Bible. From 1832 until 1970, many ministers served both St. Mary's and Christ Church. Sometimes, they even served up to six churches at once!
In 1973, St. Mary's Whitechapel and Trinity Episcopal in Lancaster became an independent church area. Since then, both churches have shared the same main minister. The church's pulpit was added in 1979, and the organ in 1984.
Church Cemetery
The church has a cemetery where many local families are buried. This includes many members of the Ball family, who were relatives of Mary Ball Washington. The oldest grave that still has a clear marker belongs to "John Stretchley, gentleman," from 1698.
Some well-known people buried here include the doctor George H. Steuart and his son, also named George H. Steuart, who was a diplomat. The famous actress Margaret Sullavan and former state politician Robert O. Norris Jr. are also buried here.
St Mary's Whitechapel Today
Today, St. Mary's Whitechapel is an active Episcopal church. The current main minister is Reverend Doctor Megan Limburg.
The church is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
See also
