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 special Episcopal church building in Lancaster County, Virginia. It is located north of Irvington. This church was built between 1732 and 1735. It is famous for its unique Georgian design. Christ Church is one of the best-preserved colonial churches in the southern United States. It is the only colonial church in Virginia that still has its original high-backed pews. It is also one of only two churches that has kept its original three-tiered pulpit.
Contents
History of Christ Church
Early Beginnings: The First Church
The very first church built on this spot was made of wood. A powerful landowner named John Carter paid for its construction in 1670. Mr. Carter passed away before the church was finished. He was buried on the church grounds with four of his five wives.
Building the Brick Church
John Carter's son, Robert, was a very rich planter. He was also a vestryman, which means he was part of the church's governing board. Robert decided that the church needed a stronger, more impressive building. In 1730, he paid for and watched over the building of a new brick church. This new church was built close to where the old wooden one stood. Christ Church was connected to Robert Carter's large home, called Corotoman mansion. A road lined with cedar trees led from his home to the church. This showed how important Robert Carter and his family were.
Challenges and Restoration
The church did very well until 1786. This was when the Anglican church in Virginia lost its official support from the government. Later, in 1802, a law called the Glebe Act allowed the state to take church property. These events made it very hard for the Anglican (now Episcopal) church in Virginia. Christ Church lost both money and people who attended services.
During the 1800s, the church was only used sometimes. It started to fall apart. The tombs of the Carter family in the churchyard were damaged by weather and neglect. People even stole bricks from the outside of the church. However, Christ Church was still in better shape than many other colonial churches. In 1927, a group called the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities started working to restore the church.
Architecture and Design
Georgian Style Features
The person who designed Christ Church is not known. However, they gave the building many features of the Georgian style. This style often includes a formal, balanced layout. It also has front walls with triangular tops, called pediments. You can also see details from classical buildings.
Inside the Church: Pews and Pulpit
Inside the church, some of the most interesting parts are the high-backed box pews. These pews were like small rooms where whole families would sit during church services. The church also has a unique "wineglass" pulpit. A pulpit is a raised platform where sermons are given. This pulpit is in the center of the building. It has three levels of lecterns, which are stands for reading. Each level showed how important the readings were. 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.
Current Use of Christ Church
Today, Christ Church is a museum. A non-profit group called the Foundation for Historic Christ Church owns and runs it. This group has worked hard to make the church look almost exactly as it did in the 1700s. The church was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. This means it is a very important historical place. Even though it's a museum, religious services are still held there. They happen at 8:00 a.m. on Sundays during the summer months. These services are held with the help of Grace Church, which is nearby.
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
