Chapel of the College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA
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The building above the crypt is a modern reconstruction of a previous chapel building on the site. Fire gutted the building three times—in 1705, 1859, and 1862. Each time it was reconstructed with the original exterior walls incorporated. It's colonial appearance was restored around 1931 through the generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. It serves as classroom and office space for the College as well as housing the Chapel which is still in use for special events.
Following the fire in 1859, the descriptions on the marble tablets in the chapel honoring those buried there were destroyed and the burials under the floor were disturbed, according to Susan Kern, director of the Historic Campus in 2015. There was also grave robbing following the 1859 and 1862 fires when the graves were exposed. Continued intrusions into the crypt continued into modern times, so the crypt has been sealed to outsiders.
While it is referred to as a crypt, it cannot be entered from above. If you came to visit someone interred there, the closest you can get is inside the chapel. You cannot enter the crypt, as it is not meant to be a mausoleum. It is completely inaccessible to the general public and is only a very few individuals—primarily researchers—who can gain access. NO PHOTOGRAPHS CAN BE TAKEN BY REQUEST IN THE CRYPT.
There are some existing photographs of the vaults and contents of the crypt in research reports available digitally through the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. I would suggest the following two reports:
- Chapel Vaults and Tablets (1970)
- Historic Area Graveyard Study (April 2005), this is the most recent survey of the contents
Both reports contain historic and contemporary photos of the crypt and its contents, as well as archeological investigation of the graves. Because of the continued disturbance of these graves, the conclusions of who is buried there and the exact location of each individual is up to some archeological supposition based on historic record.
The building above the crypt is a modern reconstruction of a previous chapel building on the site. Fire gutted the building three times—in 1705, 1859, and 1862. Each time it was reconstructed with the original exterior walls incorporated. It's colonial appearance was restored around 1931 through the generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. It serves as classroom and office space for the College as well as housing the Chapel which is still in use for special events.
Following the fire in 1859, the descriptions on the marble tablets in the chapel honoring those buried there were destroyed and the burials under the floor were disturbed, according to Susan Kern, director of the Historic Campus in 2015. There was also grave robbing following the 1859 and 1862 fires when the graves were exposed. Continued intrusions into the crypt continued into modern times, so the crypt has been sealed to outsiders.
While it is referred to as a crypt, it cannot be entered from above. If you came to visit someone interred there, the closest you can get is inside the chapel. You cannot enter the crypt, as it is not meant to be a mausoleum. It is completely inaccessible to the general public and is only a very few individuals—primarily researchers—who can gain access. NO PHOTOGRAPHS CAN BE TAKEN BY REQUEST IN THE CRYPT.
There are some existing photographs of the vaults and contents of the crypt in research reports available digitally through the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. I would suggest the following two reports:
- Chapel Vaults and Tablets (1970)
- Historic Area Graveyard Study (April 2005), this is the most recent survey of the contents
Both reports contain historic and contemporary photos of the crypt and its contents, as well as archeological investigation of the graves. Because of the continued disturbance of these graves, the conclusions of who is buried there and the exact location of each individual is up to some archeological supposition based on historic record.
Nearby cemeteries
Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA
- Total memorials26
- Percent photographed8%
Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA
- Total memorials4
- Percent photographed25%
Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA
- Total memorials3
- Percent photographed0%
Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA
- Total memorials2
- Percent photographed0%
- Added: 5 Aug 2002
- Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 1484474
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