Historic Christ Church-Archaeology: 1670 Church Site

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1670 Church Site
In July 1670 John Carter II delivered to the vestry of Christ Church Parish the first church constructed on this site. Believed to have been a frame building, the church was built under the direction of John’s father, John Carter I, who died six months before its completion. The church would last until about 1730, when Robert “King” Carter, son of John I and half-brother to John II, began construction on the brick church that stands here today. Given the liberty to use whatever he wanted from the old church, Robert Carter likely dismantled the building as work progressed on his brick church. Little else, however, is known about the 1670 church. The parish’s first vestry book, which no doubt discussed the building in some detail, disappeared circa 1840, leaving behind many unanswered questions.
Excavations (44LA55) in 2005-2006 led by archaeologists Thane Harpole, David Brown (Fairfield Foundation) and Rob Haas uncovered tantalizing clues about the site and its evolution over the past 350 years. The team found post holes and trenches from areas east of the brick church that may relate to the 1670 church and the churchyard landscaping in its early years. They also uncovered Native American pottery and architectural debris connected to the 1670 church. For a summary of the search for this first Christ Church, please click here.	Historic Christ Church Volunteer Ben Davis (left) and Foundation President John Hunt (center) screen test units east of the Carter tombs with the help of archaeologist Rob Haas in November 2005.