Blandford Church facts for kids
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Blandford Church
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The church as it looks today.
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 319 S. Crater Rd., Petersburg, Virginia |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | 1736 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001513 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1972 |
The Blandford Church is the oldest building in Petersburg, Virginia, with a clear and well-known history. It stands on Well's Hill, the highest point in the city. Today, it serves as a special memorial to soldiers from the Southern United States who died during the American Civil War. The church is right next to Blandford Cemetery, which is one of Virginia's oldest and most important cemeteries. Interestingly, the cemetery was created after the church was no longer used, when the city bought the land.
Contents
Building History
An Old Church Building
The Blandford Church, also called St. Paul's Church or "The Brick Church," was built in 1736. It was placed on Well's Hill, the highest spot in Petersburg. This made it a very noticeable building.
Revolutionary War Times
In 1781, during the American Revolution, a battle called the Battle of Blandford (or Battle of Petersburg) happened nearby. A British general named William Phillips became sick and died in Petersburg. He was secretly buried somewhere in the churchyard.
No Longer a Church
The church building was no longer used for services after 1806. This happened when a new Episcopal church was built in Petersburg. The town of Blandford, where the church was, became part of Petersburg. The old church then became "an ivy-covered, beautiful ruin."
A Civil War Hospital
During the American Civil War, the church played a different role. It was used as a major telegraph station, sending important messages. It also became a field hospital, especially after the terrible Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864. Many wounded soldiers were brought here for care.
A Special Memorial
Saving the Church
In 1882, the City of Petersburg made important repairs to save the old church. A group called the Ladies' Memorial Association of Petersburg had been formed in 1866. This group decided to turn the church into a memorial for the many Confederate soldiers buried in the nearby cemetery. About 30,000 soldiers were buried there in mass graves, and many were not identified. This association is one of the oldest women's groups in the country that isn't religious.
Restoring the Inside
Between 1889 and 1905, the Ladies Memorial Association paid for a new pulpit and 34 pews (church benches). The windows were temporarily fixed with clear glass.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
The Ladies Memorial Association then asked the eleven Confederate states, plus Maryland and Missouri, for money to create special stained-glass windows. Only Kentucky did not join in. Between 1904 and 1912, these beautiful windows were made and installed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Each large window shows a picture of a Saint and symbols connected to that Saint. Besides the thirteen state windows, Tiffany himself donated one, and the Ladies Memorial Association donated another.
The half-round stained glass window above the church door is very special. It has the name "Ladies Memorial Association of Petersburgh, VA" and the dates 1866–1909. In the middle, it shows the only Confederate flag that Tiffany is known to have made, along with the dates 1861—1865. The city's website describes the church as a "shrine" to its past.
National Recognition
The Blandford Church was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
Stained Glass Windows and Saints
Fifteen windows were installed between 1904 and 1912. Most of them show a state seal, a figure of a saint, and a special message. Eleven windows were given by each of the former Confederate states:
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Florida
- Texas
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
- Arkansas
Two more windows were given by Missouri and Maryland. Kentucky, another border state, was the only state that chose not to participate. There is also a window with a Christian cross made of jewels, which was donated by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself.
Here are some of the saints featured in the state windows:
- Saint John the Evangelist- Virginia
- Saint Paul- Louisiana: This window was paid for by the Washington Artillery. It is the only state window that does not show a state seal. Instead, it features the special symbol of the Washington Artillery.
- Saint Bartholomew- North Carolina
- Saint Philip the Apostle- Tennessee
- Saint James the Less- Mississippi
- Saint Luke- Texas
- Saint Peter- Missouri
- Saint Mark- South Carolina
- Saint Andrew- Alabama
- Saint Thomas the Apostle- Georgia
- Saint Matthew- Florida
