A report authored in 1947 took note of nearly 900 churches on record in the state of Delaware. From the 1600s, when early settlers came to the area for its fertile soils, there was no major religion, like in the northern colonies, and therefore the religious freedom was even more so in Delaware, drawing Quakers, Catholics, Jews, and Protestants. In the 1700 and 1800s, after years of mainly worshiping in small, rustic churches, beautiful works of stone and brick architecture sprung up. Many of them still stand as active churches today, still in their historic beauty. Here are a mere 20 that we think are real stunners, in no particular order.

  1. Trinity Episcopal, Wilmington

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  1. St. Paul’s, Delaware City

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  1. Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, Lewes

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  1. St. Thomas the Apostle, Wilmington

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  1. St. Anne’s, Middletown

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  1. White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, Newark

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  1. Salem United Methodist, Selbyville

Ken Rowland / Flickr

  1. Immanuel Episcopal Church, New Castle

Ryan Keene / Flickr

  1. St. Anthony of Padua, Wilmington

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  1. St. Paul’s, Georgetown

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  1. Grace Church, Wilmington

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  1. Christ Episcopal Church, Dover

Jimmy Emerson DVM / Flickr

  1. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Wilmington

david son / flickr

  1. Bethesda Church, Laurel

Lee Cannon / Flickr

  1. St. Elizabeth’s, Wilmington

St. Elizabeth Parish / Facebook

  1. St. George’s Chapel, Harbeson

All Saints Church and St. George’s Chapel / Facebook

  1. St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, Wilmington

St. Ann Church / Facebook

  1. St. Peter’s Church, Lewes

Mike Mahaffie / Flickr

  1. St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church, Rehoboth Beach

St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church / Facebook

  1. St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine, Greenville

B. Reynolds

We know that the insides of these churches must be as stunning as the outsides.

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Ken Rowland / Flickr

Ryan Keene / Flickr

Jimmy Emerson DVM / Flickr

david son / flickr

Lee Cannon / Flickr

St. Elizabeth Parish / Facebook

All Saints Church and St. George’s Chapel / Facebook

St. Ann Church / Facebook

Mike Mahaffie / Flickr

St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church / Facebook

B. Reynolds

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