Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-05
KING CARRIERS CHURCH.
His Descendants I'm Virginia Propose
To Restore 1t.
AVA hingtOn POst.

The mythical Colonel Carter. Of Car
tersville," of Virginia, who owes his
Maternity to the versatile f. Hopkinson
Smith. Esq, might If he were really in
the flesh. feel an unusual interest i'm his
alleged ancestor "King" Carter, of Coro-
toman. Corotoman, now Carter's Creek,
is a picturesque tributary of the Rap
pahannock river. Colonel John Carter,
the first of the name in Virginia, built
his homestead on the banks OF the Coro-
toman creek and called the country seat
by the euphonious Indian name now al
most forgotten by Virginians of to-day.
John Carters name. written in a firm.
bold hand, always precedes that Of the
clergyman in the parish book OF old
Christ church, OF Corotoman, which
dates back to 1854. He was a member
of the House of Burgesses and COM
mander OF the troops against the Rap
pahannock Indians. John Carter had
three wives and several children, the
most distinguished OF whom seems to
have been Robert Carter, known through
out Eastern Virginia as king" Carter
of Corotoman.
Tradition describes King Carter as an
autocratic man of more than usual exc
cutixe ability. His vast estates increased
largely under his management. He was
also very public-spirted, being treasurer
of the Colony under four soyereigns
Governor more than year, Speaker of
the House of Burgesses, rector OF Will
liam and Mary College, member and
president of the Council in 1726. He soon
found the old church TOO small for the
increasing population Of the young
Colony and on the site Of the sacred
edifice erected by his father he built at
II Nl.wt.@ 4.
which was completed In 1892. and which
is now venerated as one of the most an
Client and artistic houses OF worship be-
longing to the Diocese OF Virginia.
Corotoman creek is really n SHARP
bend OF the Rappahannock near the
point OF its confluence with the Poto-
mac, where IL empties into the Chesa-
peake Bay. The old church stands in a
stately grove of walnut and cedars
about a mile inland from the river. II
is built OF brick. The walls are 3 feet
thick. II Is shaped like a Greek cross.
four beautiful arches supporting the
centre where the arms of the cross de-
fleet. The high. old-fashioned pulpit,
perched on the side of the northeast
archway, Is approached by a winding
stairway Of walnut. The communion
table, which stands inclosed by rail-
high-backed pews; the reading desk.
located near the foot of
the pulpit stairway. and the massive
doorways are all hand-carved and OF
solid black walnut. A large pew facing
the pulpit was built for king" Carter
and his immediate family. The north
wing OF the church. in the rear Of this
pew. was also reserved for all time to
come" for the tenants and slaves of
King" Carter The Carter pew has
marks OF where rods were run. from
which were suspended curtains Of GRIM
son damask behind which the occupants
were screened when they stood during
the service.
1t Is said that the congregation never
entered the church until king Carriers
coach drove up. After he had alighted ne
strobe down the aisle with his wife on his
arm His children and retatnerp followed