BATH — The quiet Beaufort County town of Bath is home to a church that has the distinction of being the oldest in the state.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church has been an active parish for more than three centuries. Early records mention that a small group of parishioners began holding services in local homes around 1701.

The present-day brick church was built in 1734, and it has served Bath worshipers ever since, through good times and bad. It was more than 100 years old when it was severely damaged by a storm in 1840; the roof was blown away and winds and rain took their toll on the interior. The congregation rallied and repairs were made.

By 1936, time had taken its toll on the then 202-year-old church. The Rev. A.C.D. Noe was assigned to Bath and given the task of renovating and restoring the old building. The comprehensive project was well underway by 1939, and the St. Thomas congregation once again came to the rescue of their historic church.

From the stone floors of its sanctuary to the cemetery on the grounds, history abounds at St. Thomas.

The cemetery itself offers a final resting place for generations of Bath residents. The church bell, dubbed the Queen Anne Bell, is housed in a small, quaint structure on the premises. Cast in 1732 in England and recast in 1872 in New York, the bell has been in continuous use through the years.

Nearby, a stone bust dating back to the 16th century rests on a pedestal of ballast rocks retrieved from the waters of the Pamlico River. The bust was originally displayed at the home of the Marquess of Bath in Wiltshire, England; it came to Bath, North Carolina, in 1958.

Today, St. Thomas Episcopal Church hosts regular worship services as well as special events throughout the year.

“In History’s Footsteps” is a series of stories focusing on historic sites of interest in Beaufort County and appears occasionally as part of Pamlico Life.