Some old colonial churches in Virginia

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IwCi C»pies K«ceiyec |

DEC 17 i90r j

I CLASS aV xxc, y. I
I con b" j

'' — ■ Copyright 1907

by
James Mann

Burnt (§lh Qlnlnntal QUiurrlf^a in
Hirgtnta

(Numbers of paragraphs correspond with numbers in the lower left-hand
corner of the respective photographs.)

Three hundred years ago the first Protestant church in America
was built at Jamestown. It was burned within a few months, and
four others followed it successively. The fourth, the tower of which
is still standing, was commenced in 1639, and burned in Bacon's
rebellion, in 1676, by a torch, it is said, in Bacon's own hand. It
was rebuilt, but the tower and foundations alone remained when
the recent restoration was begun. In the church at Jamestown
occurred the first English marriage in America, John Laydon and
Anne Burras, 1608; the first baptism, Virginia Laydon, 1609; the
marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, 1614; and here, in 1619,
met the first legislative assembly in America.

2. ©lib (Eljurrl? Snmpr. Sampatottitt, Swr lirtn.

This view shows the old tower just before the restoration of
the church was begun in 1906. The inner foundation, smaller and
lower than the other, was only one brick thick, and was probably
the foundation of the wooden church of 1617-19. It was encased
in wood for its preservation at the time the photograph was made.
The outer foundation was no doubt that of the brick church of
1639. In the chancel the excavations disclosed the grave of a knight,
supposed to be that of Sir George Yeardley, an early Governor of
the colony, who died at Jamestown in 1627.

3. 2I!jr ISiiBiavfli ^I)urrl|. SwntBtavm.

The new church at Jamestown was built upon the foundations
of the old church of 1639, and every effort was made to reproduce
the church as it formerly stood, except that the tower was permitted
to remain in its ruined condition untouched. Even bricks from old
Colonial ruins were used, and the old lines were faithfully followed.
The church was restored by the National Society of Colonial Dames
of America, and was presented by them to the Association for the
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, by whom it was dedicated
May 13, 1907, the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the
colonists at Jamestown, and of the first religious services conducted
there by Robert Hunt.

4. »t. ^nhi'B ari|«rrl|. »mttl|fif li.

Old St. Luke's, of which doubtless the Jamestown church of
1639 was almost the exact counterpart, is the oldest Protestant
church, and, in fact, the oldest building of English construction in
America. Built in 1632, it has suffered no material change since it
was first erected, and is still in a most excellent state of preserva-
tion. It contains many very beautiful windows, memorials to John
Smith, Pocahontas, John Rolfe, Sir Walter Raleigh, Robert Hunt,
Alexander Whittaker, James Blair, Bishops Madison, Moore, Meade
and Johns, George Washington, Robert E. Lee and others.

5. IRrrcljant*3 i^apt, J^rinrf (gfnrgp CUnuttlg.

This old church, which was built in 1657, and is the second
oldest church building now standing in Virginia, is situated in Prince
George county, about fifteen miles east of Petersburg. It is not far
distant from Upper and Lower Brandon, which were situated in
the same parish in Colonial days. Merchant's Hope was long in
disuse, but has been restored, and the worshippers now gather there
at intervals.

6. Sruton Pariali CE!?urrt|, HiUiamaburg.

Bruton Parish Church was built in 1710, and is the oldest
church in continuous use in the United States. It was more inti-
mately associated with Colonial history than any other building in
Virginia. Five Presidents of the United States— Washington, Jef-
ferson, Madison, Monroe and Tyler — worshipped there, as did also
all of the Colonial Governors and the members of the House of
Burgesses for three-quarters of a century. It contains many most
interesting relics, among them the Jamestown baptismal font and
communion service. It has been beautifully restored through the
efforts of Rev. W. A. R. Goodwin, the present rector, and on Octo-
ber 5, 1907, in the presence of a most distinguished company, it
was dedicated by the Bishop of London. At the same time a lec-
tern, the gift of President Roosevelt, and a Bible, the gift of King
Edward, were presented. This photograph was made on the day
of the dedication.

r. 9t. Paura. Nnrfnlk.

St. Paul's was erected in 1739. Its large churchyard, filled
with quaint old tombs, is in the heart of the city, and with its green
shrubs and magnolia trees presents a scene of peacefulness and rest
amidst its busy surroundings. When Lord Dunmore, enraged be-
cause of his defeat at Great Bridge, fired on Norfolk, New Year's
Day, 1776, a cannon ball lodged in the side of the church, where it
can still be seen amid the ivy which covers the walls. The chair in
which John Hancock sat Avhen he signed the Declaration of Inde-
pendence is a relic of great interest which is ov/ned by St. Paul's
and is kept in the vestry room.

8. &t Sal\n'a, l^am^tton.

Hampton, the oldest existing English settlement in America, is
the site of one of Virginia's most interesting churches. Old St.

John's was erected in 1727, and is the successor of a church built
about 1610. In its keeping and in constant use are a chalice and
paten given by Mrs. Mary Robinson, of London, in 1618. They
have been in longer use than any other English church vessels in
America. It is of interest to note that the oldest free school in this
country still exists in this parish, without a break in its history since
the year 1634,

0. ^oraI|ontaa j^lrmorial Windoui.

This beautiful window is in Old St. John's, Hampton, and
represents the baptism of the famous Indian Princess, the first
native convert to Christianity in Virginia. The funds with which
this window was erected were contributed in part by the Indian
girls at the Hampton Normal School.

in. ffilau&fnrb (Sljurrli, l^tUteimr^

Old Blandford was erected in 1735, and was the principal
church in Bristol Parish, which was established in 1642. It is now
used as a Confederate memorial chapel, with memorial windows
representing each of the Confederate States. The church is partly
covered with ivy, and presents a most ancient and interesting
appearance. John Randolph, of Roanoke, once worshipped here.

n. Sntmor llanMnrb (Eliurrf?.

This photograph was recently made, and shows the interior of
the church as it has been restored, with its old colonial pulpit. It
was on the wall in old Blandford that the famous anonymous verses
were written, commencing:

Thou art crumbling to the dust, old pile ;
Thou art hastening to thy fall ;
And 'round thee in thy loneliness
Clings the ivy to thy wall.

The worshippers are scattered now
Who knelt before thy shrine,
And silence reigns where anthems rose
In days of "Auld Lang Syne."

12. CHlprtat OII|urrI|. AUxanlirta.

Christ Church was completed in 1773. The architect was
James Wren, a descendant, it is said, of Sir Christopher Wren, the
architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. On February 27, 1773,
the pew then known as No. 5 was assigned to Colonel George Wash-
ington, for which he paid £36 los. After the service one Sunday
morning, in the summer of 1774, in the shadow of this church, and
surrounded by prominent members of the congregation, Washington
advocated withdrawing allegiance from King George. In 1853
Robert E. Lee was confirmed in Old Christ Church by Bishop
Jones; and here, in 1861, he agreed to take command of the Vir-
ginia forces.

13. (§lh ^nl|irk (CI|urrI|, ^Fairfax (Enutitg.

"Old Pohick," as it is afifectionately called, was erected in 1769
upon a location selected by George Washington, and in accordance
with plans prepared by him. The Building Committee consisted of
George Washington, George William Fairfax, George Mason, Daniel
McCarty and Edward Payne. Old Pohick is familiarly known as
the Parish Church of ]Mount •Vernon, and shares with Old Christ
Church, at Alexandria, and Falls Church, the honor of being inti-
mately associated with the religious life and worship of George
Washington. It was also the parish church of George ]\Iason,
author of the Bill of Rights and Constitution of \^irginia, whose
home, Gunston Hall, was not far distant.

14. (3lh Jalla (Eliurrli, Jffairfax (Countg.

Falls Church was built about 1734, enlarged in 1750, and re-
built as it now is in 1767. It was in old Truro Parish, near the

Falls of the Potomac. Among its vestrymen were Captain Augus-
tine Washington, George Washington, George William Fairfax and
Captain Henry Fairfax, of Mexican War fame. In its yard a por-
tion of Braddock's ill-starred army is said to have once encamped.
The present building was used during the Revolution as a recruit-
ing headquarters by the Continentals.

15. &J. Saifna. Hktpnoni).

St. John's is the only one of the old Virginia churches now
remaining which was built of wood. It stands on Church Hill,
overlooking the city, and was erected in 1739 upon land donated by
Colonel William Byrd, of Westover, the founder of Richmond.
Here, May 20, 171 5, met Virginia's most famous convention, in
which Patrick Henry made the stirring declaration: "I know not
what others may do; but, as for me, give me liberty or give me
death."

On a commanding elevation, about three hundred feet back
from York River, stands Grace Church, which v;as built about 1697.
Cornwallis utilized it in 1781 as a magazine, and devastated its
interior. Tradition says that the bell of this church was the gift of
Queen Anne. When the church was partially burned, in 181 5, the
bell was broken and the fragments were placed in the vestry room.
During the Civil War the old bell was removed and ordered to be
made into bullets, but this was not done, and after the war the
fragments were found in Philadelphia by Bishop Nicholson, who,
being attracted by the words "Yorktown, Virginia, 1725," wrote to
discover the history of the bell. It was recast, and in 1889 was
returned to Grace Church, where, after a silence of seventy-four
years, it again peals out its summons to the worshippers.

Eastern Shore Chapel was built in 1754, and was the successor
of two wooden churches which had stood on the same spot, the first
having been built about 1725. The chapel is located in Princess
Anne county, about fifteen miles from Norfolk. Cape Henry, where
the colonists first landed and planted a cross, April 26, 1607, is in
the same parish as this chapel, and only a few miles distant.

IB. S>t 3lnl|n*0, Nana^monl) (CounJg.

The present St. John's, better known as "Chuckatuck," was
built in 1755, upon the site of a more ancient church built many
years before. Chuckatuck Parish became famous because of the
refusal of its vestry to obey the order of Governor Nicholson to
"present its minister for induction," insisting upon its right to select
the minister it should "entertain."

10. Wih (Slrbr (Ei|urrl|, Nanapmnni (Hountit.

The Glebe Church is across the Nansemond River from St.
John's, in the same parish, and not far distant. It was built in 1738.
This parish is one of the few in the State which holds the original
glebe lands that were held prior to the act of disestablishment, which
was passed soon after the Revolution.

VS 183-

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LIBRARY BINDING

ST. AUGUSTINE

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