Old Delaware Church is Restored

1914

Ancient Christ P.E. Building at Dover Resumes Position Among Places of Worship

Dover, Del. — Christ Episcopal church, one of the oldest colonial church edifices in the United States has been restored to its condition of the seventeenth century, when Episcopalians of the East made pilgrimages to worship within its walls.

Situated amid beautiful greenery the church of quaint structure revels in historic lore. At one side, in a graveyard, lie dozens of men and women, whose lives were intimately associated with the nation and state.

Long before the Revolutionary war when settlers in Delaware were few a handful of Episcopalians, known as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, began the organization of a church. A wooden building was pitched on the road to Delaware bay about two miles east of Dover. This early move was in 1703.

The crude frame building continued to be the place of worship until the population had so expanded that there was a demand for larger quarters.

In 1734 work on a brick building was begun. Historians record that it was at that time thought a remarkable enterprise, and there was an influx of visitors each Sunday to watch the progress on a brick church, an innovation, because all others were of frame.

Six years passed before the edifice was completed. The congregation thrived, but previous to the Civil war it was abandoned and given up to "moles and bats." Cattle were stabled in it and it became a rendezvous for boys.

In 1860 the church was reclaimed and the rough uses to which it had been subjected were found to have had but little effect. Extensive repairs were made and it was reconsecrated by Bishop Lee. Since then there have been more repairs, and, though some beautified the interior, none emphasized its rich heritages.

The restoration as far as possible, with modern conveniences, has been to revive the original architectural lines and style.