Folks, what we have here is another waterfront cemetery and a really old church.
Kingston Parish was established in (drum roll, please) 1652. Yep, 1652. To be honest, I didn't even know there was anyone but Indians around here in 1652. But that's because I can't remember any of my history. Or where I last placed my car keys.
There has been a church on this site since the early 18th century. This particular building, Christ Church Episcopal, is not that old, but it is pretty darn old. (Don't ask me how old, I forgot to write it down when I was there today reading it off the sign. I want to say it was around 1900. I can't remember everything, you know.)
There are many graves here from the 1800's (and quite possibly earlier, I didn't walk around and read every one), including that of Captain Sally Tompkins. She was famous for nursing Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. And some other things, too, but let's not get too bogged down in the details.
OK. Time out. If I go back and read what I just wrote, the vast majority of it sounds like something my youngest child might have written as a school essay. And she's only in fourth grade. So not only am I unable to provide details, evidently I have lost my ability to construct a complex sentence.
One final note: This church is on the same lane that goes down to Williams Wharf Landing, and it was also the turnaround point for the One and Only 5K race I ran a couple of months ago. The land it sits on goes down to the East River (or a creek off the East River, again with the details) and it is a beautiful, quaint little church.
See the nice church. See Jane run. See Spot sit. See Chesapeake Bay Woman think long and hard before she publishes another post like this one.
10 comments:
CBW, I've really enjoyed your blog, especially the pictures of Mathews County.
I moved to Gloucester from Britain in 2004, and have enjoyed many days in Mathews, kayaking and swimming on Bethel & Haven beaches. The Middle Peninsula is a beautiful place to live.
Read a little about a Brit's life in Gloucester Courthouse at
http://the-martian-spudhumper.blogspot.com/
Kindest regards
Turtle.
There are three reasons why I haven't documented my hometown in the way that you are documenting Mathews and the surrounds:
1) I don't wanna. SO much work chasing down dates, names, etc. etc. And in the end? People don't much worry much about dates, names, etc. etc.
2) Not a whole lot has happened here, in the way of Revolutionary Wars, Civil Wars, chemical spills, Hollywood extravaganzas, and other tragedies.
3) My town isn't particularly photogenic -- not like your area. In fact, my town could be said to have the uglies, 3/4 of the year.
So, I leave the documentarian stuff to you, because you have SUCH a good subject, and SUCH great pictures, and SUCH an enjoyable style, and besides I'm not all that big on dates, names, etc. etc.
Go Cheeky. It's your birthday.
What a nice surprise to come home after a long commute and a long work day to 2 comments on a boring post PLUS a new reader! And one from Gloucester, too.
turtle's head - Welcome, and please come back. Feel free to contribute your perspective, it is always refreshing to hear from new people. I will definitely be checking out your blog.
Foolery - After a few more such "edumakashunal" posts, I'm going to run out of fodder, because there just ain't much to report on here. I agree with you - it's a lot of work to keep up with the specifics. I'll leave that to the historical society. But that means I'm going to have to be creative, which sometimes is easy, sometimes doesn't happen. As always, thank you for your faithful visits and your kind words.
-CBW aka Cheeky
The church is lovely, and you are not sounding all simpleton-esque at all. Till the Jane runs bit at the end, anyway.
As for your ants (I know, wrong post, but I just read them both), ant traps work the best of anything OTC. If they don't get rid of the ants, then you really have a problem in your walls or something. This is not fun, but Orkin can help.
And I hope that if you ever run out of Matthews photos and stories, you keep posting anyway about YOUR life there -- I love reading about a place so different from where I live.
Mommytime - thanks for the nice words and also thanks for the ant tips. I am praying I do not have an infestation; actually I am in complete denial that's even a possibility. As we speak I have two, four, six, no EIGHT ant traps ON THE COUNTER. Coincidentally (?) I also have no ants on the counter.
Another Good Reader suggested something called Terro, which evidently is very cheap at the local hardware store but is said to KILL THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Death to the ants!
Hey, Chesapeake bay woman, Congratulations on your award from foolery....for being old! Is there no end to the wonderful surprises that come our way once we step over a certain threshold in life? I mean really, I have young handsome men holding doors open for me, the same type that would let it slam into my face when I was younger. Anyway, It might sound jealous of your award, but that's only because it was bestowed upon you by one of my favorite bloggers, who knows what she's doing! Next time I make it east, I have to check out that glorious place called Mathews.
Chow, GF
Hey, grandma j. Thank you! I'm really not old....approaching mid forties or thereabouts (close enough). I am quite honored foolery bestowed the old soul award on me. She's great.
You should definitely make a point to visit here, although be forewarned there's not a lot to do. I could give you the nickel tour though.
Thanks again!
Eh, Isn't Time Magazine written at an eighth-grade level? Keep writing, even if it feels like a fourth grade book report. Foolery and I like it very much.
Great picture. You are getting to be a pro at it now. This is a very interesting church. It somehow looks even Gothic. Have you ever been to the Church in Gloucester, where there is a pump, where alot of Mathews people go and fill up jugs with water. There is a graveyard back there. We have looked at the graves. They go back to the 1700s. If not, check it out sometime.
cats - You're talking about Ware Church, and I have not only seen the graves there from the 1700's but I have partaken of the free water that comes from that pump. My mother says the spring has been there for eons. It's the best tasting water around.
Of course, compared to Mathews water, anything tastes better.
soup - Thanks for your reassurance. I still say I need lots of editing help. I can come up with the ideas but would need loads of re-writes if it were to be anything other than what it is. I have also heard that most major publications are written to the fourth grade (or lower?) level.
I find great consolation in that fact....
Post a Comment