Near Machipongo in Northampton County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Shorter’s Chapel

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, November 14, 2025

1. Shorter’s Chapel Marker

Inscription. The Reverend John Offer was the first pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Eastville, Virginia serving from 1866 to 1871 and again from1885 to 1888. He was instrumental in building the church’s first meeting house and parsonage.

Erected 2025 by Northampton County Tourism Fund.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Notable Places • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 37° 26.666′ N, 75° 55.588′ W. Marker is near Machipongo, Virginia, in Northampton County. It is on Bayside Road (County Road 622) 0.1 miles south of Church Neck Road, on the left. The marker is actually in Bridgetown. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10228 Bayside Road, Machipongo VA 23405, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1652 Protest (approx. 0.7 miles away); Three Northampton Landmarks (approx. 2.3 miles away); Relic from Spanish Steamship (approx. 3 miles away); Site of the Almshouse Farm at Machipongo (approx. 3 miles away); Grace and William Eyre (approx.

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3 miles away); Edward Franklin and Dorothy "Dot" Wise Gibb (approx. 3 miles away); The Quarter Kitchen (1844) (approx. 3 miles away); The Quarter Kitchen (1804) (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Machipongo.

Other markers no longer nearby. Relic from Spanish Steamship (was approx. 3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Gristmill Grindstones (was approx. 3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Shorter’s Chapel AME Church Historic Marker Dedicated. (Submitted on November 14, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, November 14, 2025

2. Shorter’s Chapel Marker

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, November 14, 2025

3. Shorter’s Chapel Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 14, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clearer photo of the marker. • Can you help?