Near Odessa in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

1. Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. The history of this congregation may be traced to the 1670s, when Dutch and Swedish members of the "Reformed Church" were gathering locally for worship. By the first decade of the 18th century the settlement of persons largely of Scottish descent resulted in the formal establishment of a congregation in the area then known as Appoquinimy. The first known church, a wooden structure, was erected nearby on land that was purchased in 1711. A subscription to erect a new church was circulated in 1769. Services were being held in the present house of worship by 1773. One of the members of the committee to collect subscriptions for the building was Thomas McKean, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Regular services were discontinued following the congregation's move to a new church in Odessa in 1861. In 1895, the Friends of Old Drawyers was organized to preserve the church and grounds. Many prominent colonial and state leaders are interred in the adjoining Old Drawyers cemetery.

Erected 2006 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-153.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Colonial Era

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• Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1711.

Location. 39° 28.008′ N, 75° 39.271′ W. Marker is near Odessa, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker can be reached from US 13, one mile north of High Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in the cemetery and cannot be seen from the road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Odessa DE 19730, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Odessa (approx. half a mile away); Old St. Paul's Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House (approx. ¾ mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Tatman Office (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Corbit-Sharp House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Commodore Thomas Macdonough (approx. 1.7 miles away); McDonough Burial Ground (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Odessa.

Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 9, 2011

2. Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church Marker

Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 9, 2011

3. Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church Marker

Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

4. Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church

Old Drawyers Presbyterian Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

5. Old Drawyers Presbyterian Cemetery

Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church and cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

6. Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church and cemetery

Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church Cemetery Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 9, 2011

7. Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church Cemetery Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,187 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 20, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 20, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 7. submitted on December 24, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.