Episcopal Burying Ground and Chapel (Lexington, Kentucky)

Infobox_nrhp | name =Episcopal Burying
Ground and Chapel
( Christ Church Cemetery )
Lexington, Kentucky

nrhp_type =nrhp


caption =
location= 251 East 3rd Street

Lexington, Kentucky
area =
built =1832, 1867
added = June 24, 1976
governing_body =Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington
mpsub=
refnum=76000869 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Episcopal Burying Ground and Chapel is located at 251 East Third Street, in Lexington, Kentucky. The land was purchased in 1832 by Christ Church (Episcopal) as a burial ground for its parishioners. The cemetery became extremely important during the 1833 cholera epidemic during which Christ Church lost approximately one third of its members.

The burial ground also contains a small chapel that was built around 1867 and is thought to have been designed by Lexington architect John McMurtry. The small Carpenter Gothic chapel later became a sexton's cottage. On June 24, 1976, the burying ground and former chapel were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The only person of color buried in the OEBG, is Rev. London Ferrell, a former slave who came to Kentucky in after the death of his owner in 1811. In 1821, he was ordained by the Elkhorn Baptist Association. Rev. Ferrell ministered to the black population of Lexington at the First African Church, now the First African Baptist Church.

National Register listing

*Episcopal Burying Ground and Chapel ** (added 1976 - Site - #76000869)
*Also known as Old Episcopal Burying Ground and Chapel
*251 E. 3rd St., Lexington
*Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
*Architect, builder, or engineer: Wilgus,G.D.
*Architectural Style: Other, Gothic Revival
*Area of Significance: Architecture, Social History, Religion, Art
*Period of Significance: 1825-1849, 1850-1874
*Owner: Private
*Historic Function: Funerary, Religion
*Historic Sub-function: Cemetery, Religious Structure
*Current Function: Domestic, Funerary
*Current Sub-function: Cemetery, Single Dwelling

Current status

The cemetery is not regularly open to the public but private tours can be given by appointment by calling 859-254-2948.

ee also

*List of Registered Historic Places in Kentucky (Fayette County to Hopkins County)

References

2 "The Advocate" The Diocese of Lexington, Summer 2008, Page 5

External links

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/lexington/oeb.htm Episcopal Burying Ground]
* [http://www.ccclex.org/ Christ Church Cathedral (Lexington, Kentucky) website]