Merchant's Hope facts for kids
Merchant's Hope was the name of an important plantation and a church built in the Virginia Colony way back in the 1600s. It was also the name of an English sailing ship, the Merchant's Hope. This ship brought many people from England to Virginia in the early 17th century. The ship was owned by William Barker, a rich English merchant and sailor who owned land in Virginia.
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Merchant's Hope Plantation
The Merchant's Hope Plantation was located on the south side of the James River. It was near a place called Flowerdew Hundred and Powell's Creek. This area was once part of Charles City County but later became Prince George County in 1703.
Before Merchant's Hope, this land was home to Powellbrooke Plantation. Its owner, Captain Nathaniel Powell, was one of the first colonists who arrived in 1607. Sadly, he, his wife, and ten others were killed during a conflict in 1622.
William Barker, along with Richard Quiney and John Sadler, who were merchants from London, officially claimed the land for Merchant's Hope Plantation in 1638. Later, in 1720, Nathaniel Harrison took over ownership of the plantation.
Today, much of the land that was once Merchant's Hope Plantation is part of the James River National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge covers about 4,200 acres (17 square kilometers).
Merchant's Hope Church
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Merchant's Hope Church
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Merchant's Hope Church
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | West of the junction of Rte. 641 and VA 10, near Hopewell, Virginia |
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| Built | 1657/1743 |
| Architectural style | Georgian with Flemish Bond brickwork |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000274 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 8, 1969 |
Merchant's Hope Church was first started in 1657. The church building you see today was finished in 1743. Even though it has been repaired and updated over the years, it looks almost the same as it did more than 250 years ago. It is one of the oldest Protestant churches in America that is still used for worship today.
The church is recognized as an important historical site. It is listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
When Was the Church Built?
For a long time, people thought the church was built in 1657. This date was even said to be carved on one of the roof beams. However, recent studies of the wood in the roof, called dendrochronology (tree-ring dating), showed that the timbers are from around 1743. This means the main church building we see today was completed in 1743.
Key Moments in History
- 1639-1640: The church's "Great Bible" was printed in London.
- 1676: A group of upset settlers, led by Nathaniel Bacon, met at Merchant's Hope Church. They signed petitions asking Governor Sir William Berkeley for help against attacks from Native Americans. When the governor refused, Bacon and his volunteers took action themselves, leading to a conflict known as Bacon's Rebellion.
- 1743: The current church building was constructed.
- 1857: The church was separated from its old parish, Martin's Brandon Parish. New silver items for communion were dedicated.
- 1865: During the Civil War, Union soldiers used the church as a cavalry outpost. Many of the church's inside furnishings were destroyed.
- 1968: The church was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register.
- 1969: The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1974: The church's interior was restored to look like it did in the mid-1700s.
- 1990: A modern building for church activities, called a parish house, was built.
Why is it Called Merchant's Hope?
The church gets its name, Merchant's Hope, from the nearby plantation of the same name. Some people thought the church was named after the sailing ship Merchant's Hope, but that's not true. Both the ship and the church were named after the plantation.
Church Architecture
Merchant's Hope Church is a great example of a rectangular brick church in Virginia. It measures about 60 feet long by 25 feet wide inside. Its walls are very thick, about 22.5 inches, and made of solid brick. The brickwork uses a special pattern called English bond at the bottom and Flemish bond higher up.
Doors
The main entrance, on the west side, has a simple but elegant design. It features a rounded arch and wooden panels on the doors. The brickwork around the door is plain but well-crafted. The door itself has a half-circle window above it. The south door looks similar but is shorter and has a flat top.
Windows
The church has some of the best-preserved original windows from the colonial period. There are four windows on the north side, two on the east, and three on the south. A small rounded window is above the west door. These windows are very old and likely original. They are "guillotine windows," meaning they slide up and down without counterweights.
Inside the Church
During the Civil War, the church's interior was heavily damaged. It was later rebuilt. Today, it looks like a typical colonial church inside. The pews (church benches) are similar to old box pews, with doors at the end. The pulpit, where the minister speaks, is near the chancel (the area around the altar).
On the east wall, you'll find a communion table. On either side of it are tablets with important religious texts: the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles' Creed. Unlike many churches today, colonial Anglican churches in Virginia did not display crosses or other religious images.
Floor
The floor is said to have original 18-inch square flagstones, possibly from England. However, the current floor level seems a bit too low for the doorways, suggesting it might have been higher originally.
Roof and Ceiling
A noticeable feature of the roof is its "kicked eaves," which flatten out at the bottom, giving the church a unique look. The roof structure inside is interesting because it's one of the earliest examples of a "king-post truss" designed to allow for a curved ceiling. The ceiling you see today is a smooth, semi-domed plaster ceiling that hides the roof structure.
Symbolism in the Church Design
Merchant's Hope Church shows many key features of colonial Virginia churches:
- It's about 60 feet long (east to west) and 25 feet wide (north to south).
- There's no screen separating the chancel from the pews.
- The chancel faces east.
- The main door is on the west wall.
- It doesn't have a bell tower or a large porch.
- The outside is plain and simple.
- It displays tablets with the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles' Creed.
The design of the church also has deeper meanings. For example, the arched doorways and curved ceiling were meant to make people feel like they were moving from the everyday world into a special, spiritual place. When you enter through the arched west doorway, you pass the baptismal font (a basin for baptisms), walk under the curved ceiling, and then move towards the east where the communion table and sacred texts are.
Also, seating in colonial churches showed a person's social status. People with higher social rank sat closer to the pulpit and chancel, while others sat closer to the west wall. Men and women also sat on different sides of the aisle.
Why Merchant's Hope Church is Special
This church is considered one of the best examples of a colonial Virginia church that still exists. Its simple west doorway is unique, and its well-preserved exterior, without much decoration, makes it a classic example of church architecture from that time.
Modern Church Life
Merchant's Hope Episcopal Church still has a lively group of people who worship there. It is one of the oldest Protestant churches in America. Over the past 350 years, many famous families from Virginia have been members, including the Harrison family of Virginia, the Randolph family of Virginia, and the Bland family. Many current members can trace their family history back to the early settlers of Virginia.
One of the church's most special items is its "Great Bible." It was printed in London in 1639-40. This Bible is believed to have the longest connection to one church parish in the United States. The silver communion set used today was made in Charleston, South Carolina, and was first used in 1857 to celebrate the church's 200th anniversary.
After being damaged in the American Civil War, the church was updated with 19th-century furniture. A century later, it was restored again to look like it did in the 1700s. In 1974, a special symbol called a Tetragrammaton (an ancient symbol for God) was given to the church. It now hangs above the altar and is the only one of its kind in North America.
The church has also had more recent updates. These include repairs to the brickwork, a modern heating and air conditioning system, and a security system. A new building for church activities, called a parish hall, was built in the early 1990s. It was designed to look like old English and colonial buildings.
Notable People from the Church
- Richard Bland
- Elmon T. Gray
- Charles Hardaway Marks
- Edmund Ruffin
Images for kids
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Merchant's Hope Church
