York-Hampton Parish Church
You are here
Grace Church (York-Hampton Parish Church)
1687. 1848, 1871, 1931, rebuilding and other changes. Church St. (east side) at Main St.
-
(Photograph by Matthew Aungst)
The primary architectural interest of Grace Church is the original walls, of so-called Yorktown marl, cut slabs of shell deposits mixed with muck and clay from the nearby cliffs. It is the only known example of a colonial church built with this material. Originally rectangular in plan, the church later received a north wing. It was severely damaged during the Revolution (British General Cornwallis used it as a magazine). It burned in 1814, was not returned to service until 1848, and was again damaged during the Civil War. About the only remaining original features are the walls. The churchyard contains some early markers, including the Nelson family tombs. The churchyard wall dates from 1931.
Writing Credits
If SAH Archipedia has been useful to you, please consider supporting it.
SAH Archipedia tells the story of the United States through its buildings, landscapes, and cities. This freely available resource empowers the public with authoritative knowledge that deepens their understanding and appreciation of the built environment. But the Society of Architectural Historians, which created SAH Archipedia with University of Virginia Press, needs your support to maintain the high-caliber research, writing, photography, cartography, editing, design, and programming that make SAH Archipedia a trusted online resource available to all who value the history of place, heritage tourism, and learning.