Christ’s Chapel at Baldwin Ridge

In 1878, bad weather often made it difficult to travel by horse and buggy from the countryside to Sunday services at Saint James’ in Warrenton. Therefore, the concept of building a mission church east of Warrenton was proposed. By good fortune, a site at Mates Hill on Baldwin’s Ridge was donated by Joseph W. Blackwell, money was raised, and Christ’s Chapel was completed in 1883. The congregation was served by the rectors of Saint James’. Adjacent to the church, land was set aside for a graveyard to include family plots, as was the custom.

The chapel was in use until it was closed during World War Two because of shortages of fuel and other supplies. In 1949, the chapel was deconsecrated, and then razed in the 1950s. Its furnishings were removed to Saint James’. The graveyard continues undisturbed; the last burial was about 1915.