An Old, Colonial Church

St. Thomas Episcopal Church parish has been active for over 300 years. The church was built in 1734 in Bath, North Carolina. Both the town (1705) and the church building are the oldest in the state. Services are still held in the church each Sunday, as well as at other special times during the year.

Early in its history, St. Thomas Parish had more resources than most in the colonies. Through Dr. Thomas Bray's efforts to make appropriate books and pamphlets available to missionaries in the colonies, the parish had a library of 1,050 items. Donated in 1701, the library was first housed at a plantation in the parish but moved to the church when it was built. This would have also been the first library in North Carolina.

Early on, a Spanish clergyman, who could barely speak English and went unpaid for four years, baptized 635 people in a single year. Reverend John Garzia secured valuable gifts, a silver communion chalice from the bishop and two silver candelabra from King George II, when the church building was consecrated in 1744.

Today the church and adjoining ancient cemetery are open to tour. Don't miss it if you ever decide to see historic Bath. It's like a step back into history.

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