Saint Thomas Chapel
7854 Church Street
P.O. Box 181
Middletown, Virginia 22645
Built in 1834 in Middletown, Virginia, this historic Shenandoah Valley landmark is being revitalized through a nonprofit trust created to restore and maintain the chapel. This goal is being achieved by hosting weddings and events, and by fundraising, grants, and direct donations. Saint Thomas Chapel is nondenominational and currently does not hold regular worship services.
For event inquiries, click here.
For the history of the chapel, click here.
To donate to the St. Thomas Chapel Trust, click here.
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Weddings and Events
Saint Thomas Chapel is an ideal choice for couples seeking an affordable, traditional, and intimate Christian wedding venue. The chapel's classic architecture and timeless design provide a picturesque setting for ceremonies. With a commitment to affordability, the church accommodates various budgets without compromising on the beauty of the occasion. The intimate size of the chapel fosters a warm and inviting atmosphere, allowing couples to celebrate with their closest loved ones. St. Thomas Chapel's dedication to facilitating weddings ensures a meaningful and spiritual experience, making it a standout option for couples who value tradition and intimacy.
To inquire about an event or receive additional information about the chapel, please contact us.
History and Heritage
The historic Saint Thomas Church has been standing for nearly a century and a half on one quarter acre of land in Middletown, Virginia. This small corner lot, on what was then State Street and now known as Church Street, was purchased from Jacob and Susanah Danner for the sum of $50.00. The deed to the land was recorded April 17. 1834, and the church was nearing completion in 1836. Bishop Meade consecrated the church in this same year.
St. Thomas, constructed by an unknown architect, is patterned after the York Cathedral in England. Made of brick and faced with plaster containing cow hairs, St. Thomas has three gothic arched windows on each side of the rectangular shaped building. The eight miniature steeples, originally capped with spires, rise from the brick foundation to extend five feet above the roof. The high middle belfry was topped with a large cross that could be seen for miles. This monument of the past was enclosed with a high wooden fence.
The interior of the building is of center aisle construction leading to an arched recessed chancel. The interior walls are plaster with the straight backed wooden pews jointed into the walls. Originally, there was a gallery at the rear of the church which had to be entered from an outside door. A lovely old four tier chandelier, which has been restored, still hangs from the center of the ceiling, and the handsome wind organ remains intact.
Saint Thomas was used in many ways during the American Civil War. Union general Nathanial P. Banks used it as a commissary and stable, while Dr. John Guyer of Middletown attended the wounded from the many area battles. Soldiers were buried in the yard during the war and later exhumed and moved to their home town for their final resting place.
After the close of the war, in 1904 the U.S. government granted $1,000 to St Thomas parish to help cover damages inflicted as the result of the war.
From 1834 to 1848, St. Thomas was one of seven Episcopal churches in Frederick Parish, which at that time included what is now Warren, Frederick and Clarke Counties. St. Thomas withdrew from the Frederick Parish and formed a new parish which was called St. Thomas Parish.
In January 1973, the St. Thomas Chapel was registered a Virginia Landmark, and in April of that year, the site was registered in the National Register of Historic Places.
To date, restoration projects that have been completed are the replacing of the bell tower and steeple, installing the original bell, re-coating the outside exterior walls, and plastering and painting the interior walls. Today the Saint Thomas Chapel Trust continues to maintain and preserve the chapel for community events, weddings, and historical significance.