Church Hill is a quaint little town dating back to colonial days. Nestled in beautiful farming countryside, it has been a quiet, friendly place throughout the years. Probably, it was named for the historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (c. 1732), which sits atop a hill overlooking the center of town.

The community began forming in the late 1600s but was not incorporated until 1876. By that time, there was a lengthy list of businesses located there— from shoemaker to butcher to physician and more. But the Civil War and the World Wars took their tolls; today, Church Hill is considered a “bedroom community” with only a few businesses remaining.

The town’s history can be read in its buildings. The Mill, known as “Collins Mill” when the original structure was built in 1698, is the site of one of the earliest documented water mills on the central Eastern Shore. It played a significant role in the agricultural economy of the county until it ceased to operate during World War II. Tradition holds that the bricks used to construct St. Luke’s Church were unloaded near the mill after their transportation from England. The Mill Residence (c. 1765), originally part of the Mill property, is probably the oldest building still standing in Church Hill. The Town Hall—formerly a store, a butcher’s shop, and a private residence—was built in the early part of the nineteenth century. A portion of the town’s Elementary School was originally a High School built in 1916. The homes exhibit a variety of architectural styles, from Colonial, to Victorian, to Modern.

The town is best known today perhaps for its Church Hill Theatre, located in a converted 1930s movie house. Local and repertory players offer performances of classic theater, Shakespearean plays, musicals, and children’s plays. Residents showcase their town’s peaceful country atmosphere as an added attraction for visiting theatergoers.