Old Christ Church (Laurel, Delaware)

Old Christ Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Christ Church in 1960
Nearest city:	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
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	72000297
Added to NRHP:	April 13, 1972[1]

Old Christ Church, also known as Old Lightwood, is a historic church near Laurel, Delaware. The 1772 church resembles its parent church, Green Hill Church of Stepney Parish in Green Hill, Maryland, except that while Stepney was built in brick, Christ Church is of wood construction. Its weathered, never-painted appearance has given rise to the name "Old Lightwood."

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 termed 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 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. On both the interior and exterior, only the window sashes are painted. On the interior the pulpit stands on the middle of the north wall, with an altar at the east end. A slave gallery remains at the west end, reached by stairs. Pews are high, with doors to each family section. The ceiling is a flattened barrel vault.^[3]

See also

• Chipman's Mill, across the pond from the church
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sussex County, Delaware

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
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. ^ ^{a b} Wilkie, Rea (1971). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination: Old Christ Church". National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/72000297.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-14.