Christ’s Church: All Souls Memorial Evensong Honoring the Rev. Ephraim Avery

250 Years After His Mysterious Death, Christ’s Church Rye to Honor Revolutionary War-Era Rector with First Memorial

On November 5, 1776, the Rev. Ephraim Avery, rector of what is now Christ’s Church Rye, died under violent and mysterious circumstances amid the turmoil of the American Revolution. A Loyalist sympathizer, Avery is believed to have been murdered during a period when political and religious divisions tore through the community. Although buried in the church’s historic cemetery, Avery has no known surviving gravestone or memorial marker. Exactly 250 years later, Christ’s Church will honor his life and legacy with a special evening of remembrance, culminating in the dedication of its outdoor altar in his memory.

The evening will begin with a candlelit All Souls Memorial Evensong, a traditional Anglican service of music and prayer remembering those who have died. Following the service, participants will gather at the church’s outdoor altar, weather permitting, for a dedication honoring Avery. Former rectors of Christ’s Church have been invited to participate, connecting generations of parish leadership across nearly three centuries.

“As people of faith, we believe every life deserves to be remembered,” said the Rev. Matt Stone, Rector of Christ’s Church Rye. “For 250 years, the Rev. Ephraim Avery has rested in our cemetery without a marker to honor his life. This Thursday, we have an opportunity to right that wrong. By dedicating our outdoor altar in his memory, we honor his ministry, acknowledge a painful chapter in our community’s history, and remember that even in times of deep division, every life has dignity.”

Avery’s story offers a fascinating window into Rye during the American Revolution. As a minister loyal to the Church of England, Avery found himself caught between his religious commitments and the growing revolutionary movement. His death in 1776 remains one of the more haunting episodes in the town’s colonial history.

Following the dedication, guests will gather in the Parish Hall for a catered dinner and a presentation by local historian and Rye Historical Society trustee Lear Beyer, titled “Rev. Avery’s Life & Legacy.” Beyer will explore Avery’s life, his connections to figures of the Revolutionary era, and the role of Christ’s Church in Rye during the nation’s founding.

The event is open to the entire community, regardless of religious affiliation. Dinner will be provided by Dig Inn, with donations requested to help cover the cost of the meal.

The suggested donation for dinner is $20 per person or $50 per family.