The colony was not yet 10 years old when this parish was organized. The first church complete in 1630 and this version, one hundred years later in 1730. The years after both the Revolution and the Civil Wars took a toll on the small church but it still stands as an active congregation. Walking around the cemetery you notice no graves older than the Civil War and that is because the stones were taken and used for floors in the soldier's tents. Five presidents have worshiped within the walls of this church.
The church is closely associated with the Westover Plantation famous as the home of the Byrds who included the founder of Richmond with Williams E Byrd II. The original airport here was first called Byrd Field and the famous movie theatre in Carytown built in the early 1900's is Byrd Theatre (home of Area 10 Church!). The original church was closer to the house and a grave there dates from 1637, that of Captain William Perry, whose stone is the third oldest in the US.
The entrance is almost hidden behind the towering Magnolia trees.