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Heritage Sunday set at St. George’s Chapel Nov. 18

November 16, 2018

On Sunday, Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m., the Episcopal Parish of All Saints’ Church and St. George’s Chapel will celebrate Heritage Sunday at the historic chapel located at 20274 Beaver Dam Road in Harbeson, six miles south of Five Points on Route 23. 

Services at St. George’s Chapel date back to 1719 at this location. The chapel was originally built for the convenience of the country families who could not easily travel into town, the nearest being Lewes, for services. It was simpler for the minister to come out to the chapel than for the country families to make it into the town.  The location on a branch of Herring Creek allowed many of the families to arrive by boat.

The original St. George’s Chapel was completed in 1719, and was destroyed by fire in 1792. The present chapel was completed in 1794 on the same spot. The new church is made of brick, which is unusual for this period, and the brick was fired on location.  It is still referred to as The Brick Chapel by locals. The style of the interior of the building is of the early Federal period. The hourglass pulpit is in its original position, described as being as high as the gallery; it is of the single liturgical center plan, with pulpit, reading desk and altar together, which was an experimental design of the 1700s. The chapel’s windows are bubbled hand-blown glass. The oldest marked grave in the churchyard is dated 1732, and many local heroes and historical figures are buried there.

St. George’s Chapel is a treasure that has been lovingly maintained and restored over the years. In the 1960s, planning and research began for a complete and authentic restoration. The architect for the project was Allen Wood Fraser, A.I.A., and the contractor was Samuel C. Russell of Lewes, with All Saints’ Church rector Father Richard Bailey overseeing all work. The Rehoboth Beach and Harbeson congregations officially merged as one parish in 1980, and share extensive community outreach and music programs throughout the year.

The service on Heritage Sunday will include music appropriate to the period as the congregation pays tribute to its long and colorful history.  All are welcome and invited to receive Holy Communion. For more information, call the parish office at 302-227-7202 or go to www.allsaintsandstgeorges.org.

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