Tangier in Accomack County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Swain Memorial United Methodist Church

Photographed by Kevin W., August 11, 2010

1. Swain Memorial United Methodist Church Marker

Inscription.
The most prominent of the island's buildings, Swain Memorial United Methodist Church is easily recognized as the focal point of Tangier.

Built in 1899 on the site of the island's second church (1842), it is the center of the Tangier's religious activity.

The Hiram Benson Education Building, erected in 1963 is named for a "pillar" of the Methodist Sunday school and occupies the site of the third church, Mariner's Bethel (1870).

Traditional Methodist class meetings are still held weekly and may be the last such gatherings of any Methodist community in America.

Erected by Tangier History Museum & Interpretive Cultural Center.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Tangier History Museum & Interpretive Cultural Center series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 37° 49.634′ N, 75° 59.519′ W. Marker is in Tangier, Virginia, in Accomack County. It is on Main Ridge Road near Ponderosa Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16177 Main Ridge Rd, Tangier VA 23440, 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 walking distance of this

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marker: Dr. Copter — Flying Medicine to Tangier (here, next to this marker); Telephone Office, Post Office & Myrt’s (a few steps from this marker); Tangier Island (a few steps from this marker); Tangier Island Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); The Parson of the Islands (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Tangier Island Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Tangier Island World Wars I and II Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Jim's Gift Shop (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tangier.

More about this marker. There are three pictures on the marker. The top picture is a distant shot of Swain Memorial United Methodist Church in 1940. The middle picture is of Swain Memorial United Methodist Church in 1959 (picture on the marker is by Bodine). The picture in the lower left is of Hiram Benson in 1959 (picture on the marker is by Bradshaw).

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 9, 2026

2. Swain Memorial United Methodist Church Marker

The marker has weathered but remains generally legible.

Photographed by Kevin W., August 11, 2010

3. Swain Memorial United Methodist Church Marker

Swain Memorial United Methodist Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., August 11, 2010

4. Swain Memorial United Methodist Church and Marker

The Hiram Benson Education Building is behind the church, on the right in this picture.

Cornerstones image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 11, 2016

5. Cornerstones

Lee's Bethel, 1835. Enlarged 1842, 1860. Rebuilt, 1870. Enlarged, 1890. Built new, 1897. Renamed Swain Memorial M.E. Church, 1900.

Swain Memorial United Methodist Church Sanctuary image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 9, 2016

6. Swain Memorial United Methodist Church Sanctuary

One of the three large stained glass windows image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 9, 2016

7. One of the three large stained glass windows

One of the smaller windows image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 9, 2016

8. One of the smaller windows

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,169 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 31, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 2. submitted on May 9, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on January 31, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 11, 2016, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.