I must admit, I haven’t visited all that many cemeteries in my life. I do love the history surrounding them, though, and thinking about the lives of those that were here before us. On a recent press trip to St Simons Island, I got to visit Christ Church Cemetery Frederica in St Simons Island during the Festival of Flowers.
A Visit To Christ Church Cemetery
Just like the church and the cemetery, Christ Church Frederica’s history is beautiful. Christ Church Frederica was founded in 1808, after the Revolutionary War and it is is the second oldest Episcopal Church in the diocese of Georgia. The church was basically destroyed in 1862, though pieces of the original church were salvaged and the church was rebuilt in 1884. Many of the original pieces still exist today.
The new church was built by Deacon Anson Green Phelps Dodge as a memorial to his first wife. He also went on to build other churches on the island. He, his first wife, his second wife and his child are all buried in the cemetery. The child was buried with the mother and the small marker that you see in the picture above is actually a foot marker, not the child’s headstone. There are unmarked graves in this cemetery dating back to 1796.
With towering moss covered oak trees surrounding the church and cemetery, and iron fences surround many of the plots, the grounds have a haunted appearance. Inside are beautiful stained glass windows donated by family members in commemoration of those lost.
Many notable people have visited and worshipped in Christ Church Frederica including Canterbury George Carey, Queen Wilhelmina, Presidents Calvin Coolidge, Jimmy Carter and George Bush, and Vice-President Alben Barkley.
The ladies of the church also have an annual Tour of Homes. Participants will visit notable homes on both St Simons Island and Sea Island. I was not able to take part in this as the next tour is in 2016, but it is definitely something I would be interested in, so I thought I would share it with you guys.
See the rest of my Christ Church Frederica photos on Flickr.
This is such a nice cemetery and the annual tour sounds interesting. I hope I get the chance to take that tour.
I love old cemeteries. We have the oldest ones in the country here here in New England and I love exploring them.
How gorgeous! I love the history in these types of places.
Wow that is a beautiful church! I love traveling to old cemeteries and old churches!
those are beautiful! I absolutely love old churches. I think I see a road trip in my family’s future.
I love visiting St. Simon’s Island! There is so much history, we always stop at the old churches.
I like the history of them too. I will not explore them at night (way to creepy for this gal), but I like going through them during the day to read the stones.
It does look like a lovely tour. The stsained glass always gets to me, I think it’s beautiful.
The Christ Church Frederica and Cemetery look absolutely beautiful. I love to walk around old grave yards and read the tombstones, however it’s often sad to see how short life used to be.
Those grounds are really quite pretty. It must have been awesome learning about the place while taking in its beauty.
I would never have thought to visit a cemetery while visiting St. Simons, but look what I would have missed out on. As I sat here and thought about visiting a cemetery for something other than a funeral I actual think it may be peaceful and more like a garden full of history.
What a beautiful chapel. The cemetery looks like pretty well mainttained!
Christ Church Frederica is indeed beautiful. Cemeteries are intriguing places to visit, just to learn the history behind the resting places for so many.
Beautiful pictures! I would love to visit! I have never been that far south!
That is a gorgeous church. And I think the cemetery has beautiful headstones too. Very neat history.
The Church is beautiful … the Cemetery not so much. Its interesting to know the story of those before us. The Headstones are so beautiful which shows great craftmanship
What a stunning cemetery. I love the history and the stories the graves could tell!! That would be an interesting day for sure!
Sounds like you had a nice visit in Georgia. The church looks so quaint and has such a history. Thanks for sharing about it.
Your pics are just fabulous!! I have always wanted to visit St Simon Island!!
How beautiful. I think I’ve only really seen those moss covered tree in GA when driving through this summer. They sure are beautiful!
What a beautiful church! I would love to pay that church a visit just for the beauty of it even!
This is such a beautiful church to visit. The stained glass alone would be a good enough reason to stop by. I love the look of the cemetery too, it’s so wonderfully put together and interesting.
Beautiful church, great history! I’ve never been to GA, would love to visit this place. They keep the cemetery clean and well maintained.
I’d love to know when the tour is in 2016. I’d definitely drive over for it! Beautiful church and grounds.
Your photos certainly made this look like a place worthy of a visit the next time I am in Georgia.
I have never visited a cemetery for fun or interest. I think It would kind of creep me out.
I agree completely Dawn about the history of cemeteries being intriguing. This cemetery looks so weathered with the moss hanging from the trees and the more elaborate burial plots. When we were traveling this summer in Canada we went to a historical fort and spent quite a bit of time reading the tombstones. It really makes you imagine the people being honored and wonder about their lives. The flower arrangements in Christ Church are beautiful.
I haven’t visited cemeteries because we always go to temples to visit our relatives that passed away. This cemetery does not look scary at all.
This looks absolutely beautiful! I’ve never been nor have I been to a historical cemetery but theres something very peaceful about it! Thanks for sharing!
I have always loved the way churches and cemeteries look, I have never thought about taking photos there. Thanks for the inspiration now I have something fun planned!
This sounds like it would be an amazing tour. I love willow trees like these so this looks like a beautiful place to rest. The cemeteries have always interest me too because of the history mainly of the people. Just like you I think of how there lives were when they were alive.
Wow, this is so gorgeous. I know that sounds weird, but I really love looking around old churches and cemeterys.
I have personally never visited an old church or cemetery but you can tell by your photos that this place holds a lot of historical emotion for many people. The vicinity is beautiful.
This is eerily beautiful. It looks like an amazing experience.
These are beautiful photos. It would be a interesting tour to go on. The older gravestones are so unique.
I have not been to Savannah in so long, but I love it there. This is a stop I have not made yet, but will on my next visit.
The church is really pretty and those flowers too. I like visiting old cemetery’s and would like to see this one some day.
I’ve always found old cemeteries interesting! Creepy at times, but interesting, nonetheless. Some of the graves in the pictures remind me some of the ones I’ve seen in New Orleans.
So much rich history and awe inspiring pictures! Looks like a beautiful little church to visit!
What an interesting place. We’ve never visited that place before, but we had visited a few historic cemeteries before because my husband is so into history.
It’s just beautiful. I love getting immersed in the history of places such as this one. However, it’s the beauty of the grounds that’s really speaking to me.
I wonder if you noticed much by looking at the headstones or dates.
I’d be interested to know if there are any African American buried there.
Back then, cemeteries were segregated then.
I love learning about historical buildings and cemeteries and such too. Too bad the church was destroyed in 1862 but glad it was rebuilt.
I love visiting cemetaries. This one is beautiful and I too am very intersted in the history of the older cemetaries. I’ll admit I’m a bit of a paranormal buff as well so that aspect also draws me in.
Some where along the line, cemeteries lost their original purpose, which was to be places of peace and reflection. Old places like this just ooze serenity to me. Amazing.