St. Peter's In The Great Valley

Last Saturday, the weather was gloomy and threatened rain at any moment - so I stayed close to home and visited some Revolutionary War sites that, while nearby, I haven't visited or paid much attention to - Amongst those sites was the Paoli Massacre in Malvern, PA, the Diamond Rock (Octoagonal) Schoolhouse, and an old Church used as a hospital during the War of Independence. Some of the other pictures I took Saturday are in the Flickr photostream on the right.


"The township of Tredyffrin, in which St. Peter's Church principally resides, is translated from the Welch word "Tryduffrin" meaning "great valley". This Great Valley, where they had planted themselves, reminded many of the Welsh colonists of vistas from their beloved homeland; the natural conditions are strikingly like those found in the Welsh Border counties."


"The log church that would become St. Peter's lay at the 'upper' or north-western corner of Tredyffrin Township within an already existing burying ground at the crest of the highest hill within the middle of the Great Valley. It was common to build a church on ground already used as a burial place."

The Church is the white building in the center of the picture above at the edge of an abandoned limestone quarry.


"As revolutionary fervor against Great Britain increased by 1776, the dilemma of Anglican parishes in general, and St. Peter's Church in particular, became acute. This quandary was exacerbated by the refusal of the Rev. Currie to renounce his vow of loyalty to the King, taken as a young priest years before."


"Considered a Tory by many throughout the parish, the confrontation between parishioners and priest became so hostile that Rev. Currie no longer had the consent of his flock to lead and thus resigned from active service in May 16, 1776."

The Church then went without a leader for many years.


"Tradition has long held that immediately after the Paoli battle, the British, viewing St. Peter's as a Church of England property, supervised the burial of a British officer, at least two other British enlisted soldiers, and at least five Continental troops killed in the Paoli battle. They lie buried side by side along the old west wall of the churchyard."

"Each grave is marked by a single fieldstone, with no inscription or epitaph of any kind, to indicate the British or American occupant."

There are many other old graves.


"In memory of David Williams,
who departed this life September the 4th,
in the year 1801 In the 63rd year of his age
My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise
Aid in my Saviour's image rise"

"In memory of Roger Little who departed this life Oct. 1st, 1819 In the seventieth year of his age (Revolutionary Soldier)."

"In memory of Mary Little who departed this life May 11th, 1841 In the seventy-ninth year of her age."

I wondered if this was the Mary that had the little lamb.

Source of the quoted text.