Grace Episcopal Church Yorktown
Location submitted by: sdonley on 07/03/2025
DBA Approved: Y
Larger Map
111 Church St
Yorktown, VA 23690
Phone: (757) 898-3261
Open to the public: Yes
https://gracechurchyorktown.org/
Lat: 37.236213
Lon: -76.507348
PANICd#: 2209
Publication date: 07/18/2025
Grace Church is a historic Episcopal church and cemetery at Route 1003 and Main Street in Yorktown, Virginia. It was built in 1697 and later updated with a Greek Revival style.
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 1
Claims: 10
Evidence: 0
Resources: 3
Retrievals: 99
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
| |
Rate this Location <- Get Location Badge Code |
History
History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
The Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown, Virginia, traces its origins back to the early colonial era, with the first church on the site dating to 1634 near Wormley Creek. The current structure was built in 1697 using local marl stone and has stood through centuries of change. Its walls have weathered frontier tensions, fires, and military occupations, making it one of only a few colonial Virginia churches to survive from that period.
By the early 1700s, the church served as the primary house of worship for prominent Yorktown families like the Nelsons, including Thomas Nelson Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence buried in its churchyard. Throughout the Revolutionary War, it endured damage when British troops used the building and grounds during the Siege of Yorktown.
A devastating town fire in 1814 left only the marl walls standing, and the church lay mostly in ruins until a modest rebuilding in 1848. Further restoration in the 1920s introduced new architectural elements and colonial-style additions, followed by archaeological studies in the mid-20th century that informed efforts to preserve its historic character.
During the Civil War, the belfry served as a lookout tower while the main sanctuary became a makeshift hospital. The original bell, dating back to the early 1700s, was removed and later recast from its fragments and returned to the church in the late 19th century.
Today, Grace Episcopal Church remains an active congregation housed in a building recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Its long history—from colonial settlement through wars and restoration—resonates in its architecture, cemetery, and continued role in the Yorktown community.
Added by: sdonley on 07/18/2025
DB#:775
Source(s):
Various
Stories & Folklore
Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.
Grace Episcopal Church is also known for a number of ghost stories and unexplained phenomena that have captured the attention of locals and visitors alike. The church and its surrounding cemetery are often included in Yorktown ghost tours due to frequent reports of strange lights, whispers, and apparitions. People visiting at night sometimes claim to see figures moving among the headstones or near the old church entrance.
Inside the sanctuary, there have been accounts of voices echoing through the empty building, especially in the aisles and near the pulpit. These sounds are described as low murmurs or quiet conversations, with no identifiable source. Several visitors have reported feeling watched, especially when standing alone in the church or walking the grounds.
There are also claims of flickering lights and moving shadows, even when the church is closed and unlit. Some describe candles appearing to waver or glow when there is no breeze or electrical activity. These strange occurrences are often dismissed by skeptics, but others believe they are signs of lingering spirits from the church’s long and at times tragic history.
Apparitions have also been seen around the cemetery, including shadowy figures that seem to drift between the gravestones. These figures are said to vanish when approached, and some guests have captured unexplained shapes or orbs in photos taken on the property. The sense of quiet sadness around the site often leaves a lasting impression on those who visit.
Though there are no formal investigations into the hauntings, the continued stories and local traditions suggest that Grace Episcopal Church may hold more than just historical significance. For many who visit, especially after dark, it feels like a place where the past is still very much present.
Added by: sdonley on 07/18/2025 DB#: 1733
Source(s):
Various
Paranormal Claims
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.
| Claim # | Added | Added By | Claim |
| 3960 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Footsteps echo inside empty aisles |
| 3961 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Shadowy figures move among cemetery headstones |
| 3962 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Flickering lights appear without explanation |
| 3963 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Distant whispers are heard in the sanctuary |
| 3964 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Strange light anomalies occur in dark corners |
| 3965 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Apparitions vanish the moment they are noticed |
| 3966 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | A sense of presence lingers near the graves |
| 3967 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Faint murmurs are captured during ghost tours |
| 3968 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Empty lamps flicker and sway |
| 3969 | 07/18/2025 | sdonley | Visitors feel watched in quiet rooms |
Additional Resources
This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
| History - Grace Church Yorktown
Added: 07/18/2025 By: sdonley |
History about the church. |
| Beautiful Communion | Grace Historical Church Preservation Foundation
Added: 07/18/2025 By: sdonley |
Timeline about the church. |
| Wonderlog
Added: 07/18/2025 By: sdonley |
Yorktown Hallowed Ground Candlelight Ghost Tour |
Recently Added Locations
