Explore the storied history of Old Christ Church
The Chesapeake region’s only 18th-century frame church with remaining original interior details can be found in Sussex County.
Old Christ Church, located near Laurel, represents a nationally significant religious house of worship, as is proposed in a nomination for the site to be recognized by the federal government as a National Historic Landmark. Characterized as an “auditory” church, Old Christ Church exemplifies Maryland Anglican architecture. If the nomination is successful, the site would join 14 other National Historic Landmarks found across Delaware (11 in New Castle County, two in Kent County and one in Sussex County).
Construction on the church began in 1771, during a period of great social and political upheaval on the eve of the American Revolution. This period of significance, 1771 to 1776, also marks the historical moment of the Penn and Calvert families working to define the boundaries between Maryland and the Three Lower Counties (Pennsylvania) and the establishment of the State of Delaware through its state constitution adopted on Sept. 20, 1776.
Old Christ Church retains exceptionally high levels of integrity and character defining features. Over the centuries, the building has never been significantly altered, electrified or enhanced with plumbing on the interior.
The church sits on just over 2.5 acres at the intersection of Old Christ Church Road and Chipman’s Pond Road near Laurel, on land that was formerly part of Maryland. The Sussex County house of worship has been known by many other names as well: Old Lightwood and Broad Creek Church or Broad Creek Chapel, just to name a few.
Drafting a National Historic Landmark is a research-intense process requiring active coordination with National Historic Landmark staff. The nomination will go through several rounds of revisions and edits. Recently, Amanda Casper and Dennis Montagna of the National Park Service visited Old Christ Church and met with the nomination’s author, representatives of the Old Christ Church League and staff from the State Historic Preservation Office. Check back for updates as the National Historic Landmark nomination process unfolds.