Christ Church Kingston Parish Cemetery in Mathews, Virginia

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Get directions Mathews, Virginia, USA

Coordinates: 37.41069, -76.33578
Cemetery ID:

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For over 350 years, Kingston Parish has watched over the development of a great nation from its earliest roots. Yet the community of worshippers that calls Kingston Parish home has battled adversity, disease, war, and the forces of history to build what is today a vibrant, fast growing Christian Parish in Mathews County, on Virginia's Chesapeake Bay.
The Parish was in existence on March 15th, 1657, as there is a reference to it in the Virginia Land Office Patent Book No. 4, page 304.
Parishes across Virginia were disappearing along with the deaths of their ministers. Kingston Parish lasted longer than many, but by 1811 had almost vanished as well.
Elizabeth Tompkins, daughter of prominent local merchant Christopher Tompkins whose home was "Poplar Grove," was determined to rebuild the old church. She sold community members on the need to revive the old institution. By the end of 1841 a restored building, Christ Church, was complete and for the first time in over twenty years, there was a minister and divine services in the Parish.
Tragically, within little more than a year, Elizabeth and two of her three sisters became ill and died. Only the last sister, Sally, age nine, remained. Sally was to grow to become Captain Sally Tompkins, CSA, the first woman ever commissioned as an officer in an American Army.
A monument to both Capt. Sally and Elizabeth today stands in Christ Church cemetery. Moreover, Elizabeth's memorial stone lies behind the altar rail in the chancel of Christ Church.