The Oldest Church In North Carolina Dates Back To The 1700s And You Need To See It
By Carolyn Harmon|Published February 14, 2023
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Carolyn Harmon
Author
Under Brown Mountain Lights the Beast of Blandenboro wanders this magical land where lighthouses shine on kingdoms only accessible by ferries. A Lost Colony of legends and pirates revealed in historical sites and majestic mountains with views that make us weep. The home of handmade sculptures and scrumptious cuisine. North Carolina leaves this long-time writer and artist breathless with endless surprises, including the unlikely warmth a winter walk on the beach can bring.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church sits in the heart of Historic Bath and has been an active parish since 1701, 33 years before the construction of the building. In October of 1734, the churchwardens wrote a letter to the Society for the Propagation Of the Gospel in Foreign Parts saying they were building a church at their own cost. With threats to ruin this sacred building, including an 1840 storm blowing off the roof and damaging the interior, restorations along the way have kept this important place intact. We know you will enjoy this very beautiful piece of history.
Welcome to the oldest church building in the state of North Carolina.
The parish started long before the building in 1701 when a small group began holding services with lay readers in area homes. It was formally accepted into the Diocese of North Carolina In 1823 and consecrated in 1826.
Be sure to examine the old brick walls, which are two feet thick, of Flemish-bond craftsmanship.
In addition, the outside of the building celebrates many of Bath's founding fathers.
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Also, clergymen are memorialized, because until the Civil War, St. Thomas was served by at least 15 of them, such as Anglican Minister John Garzia, who served the parish from 1733-1744.
Walk in with reverence looking down at first to consider that some early settlers are buried under the original English
tile, said to follow the English custom.
