Christ Church (Lancaster County, Virginia) facts for kids
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Christ Church
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Photograph taken during the early stages of the restoration of Christ Church
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 420 Christ Church Road, Weems, Virginia |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Built | 1735 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000841 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1961 |
Christ Church is a very old and important Episcopal church building in Lancaster County, Virginia. It is located just north of Irvington. This church was built between 1732 and 1735.
It is famous for its special Georgian style. Christ Church is one of the best-preserved colonial churches in the southern United States. It is the only colonial Virginia church that still has its original tall pews. It is also one of only two churches that kept its original three-level pulpit.
Contents
Discovering Christ Church's Past
Christ Church has a long and interesting history. The very first church on this spot was made of wood. A powerful landowner named John Carter paid for it in 1670. Sadly, Carter passed away before the church was finished. He was buried on the church grounds with four of his five wives.
How Robert Carter Built a New Church
John Carter's son, Robert, was a very rich man. He was also a vestryman, which meant he helped manage the church. Robert decided the church needed a much stronger building. So, in 1730, he paid for and watched over the building of a new brick church. This new church was built right where the old wooden one stood.
Christ Church was connected to Robert Carter's large home, called Corotoman, by a road lined with cedar trees. This showed how important Robert Carter and his family were to the church.
Challenges and Restoration of the Church
The church did very well until 1786. That's when the Anglican church in Virginia lost its official status. This event, along with a law in 1802, allowed the state to take church property. This made things very hard for the Anglican (now Episcopal) church. Christ Church lost money and many people stopped attending.
During the 1800s, the church slowly fell apart. The Carter family tombs outside were damaged by weather and neglect. Even vandals stole bricks from the church walls. But Christ Church still survived better than many other old churches. In 1927, a group called the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities started working to fix and restore the church.
Exploring the Church's Design
We don't know who the original architect of Christ Church was. But they designed the building with many features of the Georgian style. This style often includes a formal, balanced layout. It also has fancy front entrances and details inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Inside Christ Church's Unique Features
Some of the most famous parts of the church's inside are its tall box pews. These pews were like small rooms where whole families could sit during services. The church also has a special pulpit that looks like a wineglass. It is placed right in the middle of the building.
The pulpit has three different levels. Each level was used for a different type of reading or speech. The bottom level was for community announcements. The middle level was for reading from the Bible. The very top level was saved for the main sermon, which was the most important part of the service.
Christ Church Today
Today, Christ Church is a museum. It is owned and run by a non-profit group called the Foundation for Historic Christ Church. This group has worked hard to make the church look almost exactly as it did in the 1700s.
Because of its importance, Christ Church was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Even though it's a museum, church services are still held there. You can attend services at 8:00 a.m. on Sundays during the summer months. These services are held with the help of a nearby church called Grace Church.
Gallery
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Pulpit of Christ Church
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Christ Church with graveyard and restored brick wall in foreground
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Cedar-lined road to Robert Carter's Corotoman plantation
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Main entrance, showing decorative brickwork
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Intricate woodwork on the sounding board above the pulpit
See also
