Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Grace Episcopal Church

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 5, 2026

1. Grace Episcopal Church Marker

Inscription.
Erected prior to 1700. Burned by the English Navy in 1814. Partially rebuilt in 1825. The bell now in use was made in 1725. Restored in 1926. The bell was presented to the Church by Queen Anne. The original colonial Communion silver is still in use.

Gen. Thomas Nelson, Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence, is buried in the church yard.

Erected 1927.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures • War of 1812.

Location. 37° 14.159′ N, 76° 30.446′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It can be reached from Church Street north of Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is within the brick-walled churchyard, north of the building on the smallest side of the yard, mounted on the ground. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 Church Street, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 walking distance of this marker: These Ledgers (a few steps from this marker); Nicolas Martiau and 16 of His Family Members (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Colonel Thomas Pate (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonial Grace Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Grace Church - circa 1697 (within shouting distance of this marker); Somerwell House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cole Digges House, circa 1925 (about 400 feet away); Medical Shop (Reconstructed) (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

More about this marker.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 5, 2026

2. Grace Episcopal Church Marker

The marker forms part of the landscaping for the churchyard's north wall.

The marker originally decorated the entrance to the church (oriented to the right of the door as visitors approach from the street) and was installed at the end of major renovations in 1927. The tablet was donated by a "Mr. Blout of Richmond." It was removed less than ten years later and replaced with a cast tablet that still sits on the wall to the right of the west entrance today (2025), linked elsewhere on this page. The rationale for replacement was correction of errors; those requiring correction are the attribution of the 1814 fire to the British (the blaze was accidental, not the result of hostile action) and the sourcing of the bell to Queen Anne (who had been dead for 11 years by the time the bell was cast in 1725).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. It replaced this marker at the front of the church and corrected some errors.

Grace Episcopal Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 5, 2026

3. Grace Episcopal Church

The marker was originally "to the right of the entrance" - replaced by the dark cast tablet seen here (HMDB Marker # 83887). The old marble tablet was moved off to the yard at left.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 52 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.