Monumental Church facts for kids
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Monumental Church
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Monumental Church, 2019
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1224 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia |
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| Built | 1812–1814 |
| Architect | Robert Mills |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000326 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
Monumental Church is an old Episcopal church in Richmond, Virginia. It stands at 1224 E. Broad Street. This special building was designed by Robert Mills, a famous American architect. It's one of the first and most unique churches in America built in the Greek Revival style.
The church is a very important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has also been named a National Historic Landmark.
The church was built between 1812 and 1814. It serves as a memorial to the 72 people who died in a terrible fire. This fire happened on December 26, 1811, at the Richmond Theatre. The theater used to stand on the same spot.
The building has two main parts: a church and a crypt. The crypt is a special underground room. It holds the remains of those who died in the fire. The church itself has an eight-sided shape. Its walls are made of brick. They are covered with Aquia Creek sandstone and a smooth stucco finish.
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History of the Church Site
The land where Monumental Church now stands has a long history. It was first planned for America's first Academy of Fine Arts and Sciences. This idea came from Chevalier Quesnay de Beaurepaire, a French officer. But the plan was stopped because of the Revolutionary War.
In 1786, Richmond's first theater was built here. People described it as looking like a "barn-like building."
Important Meetings Held Here
The Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788 took place in this building. This was an important meeting to decide if Virginia would approve the United States Constitution. It started on June 3 and lasted for three weeks. Many important people attended, including James Madison, John Marshall, James Monroe, and Patrick Henry.
The Tragic Fire
The first theater building burned down in 1802. A new theater, called the Richmond Theatre, was built to replace it. But in 1811, a terrible fire broke out at this new theater. Seventy-two people lost their lives.
After the fire, Chief Justice John Marshall decided a church should be built there. It would serve as a monument to those who died. He asked Robert Mills to design it. Mills was the first American-born architect. He also designed the famous Washington Monuments in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Mills was known for designing buildings that were safe from fire.
Early Church Life
On November 20, 1817, Monumental Church started Richmond's first Sunday School program. Many famous people attended the church. Chief Justice John Marshall and his family had their own pew. Edgar Allan Poe, the famous writer, also attended with his foster parents. The Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero, visited the church in 1824.
Over time, Monumental Church helped start three other churches in Richmond. These were St. James's, St. Paul's, and All Saints. As people moved to the suburbs, it became too expensive to keep Monumental Church open. In 1965, it was no longer used as a church. The Medical College of Virginia used it for classrooms for a while. Later, the building was given to the Historic Richmond Foundation. This group helps protect old buildings.
Church Design
The design of Monumental Church caused some debate. Two architects, Benjamin Henry Latrobe and Robert Mills, were asked for their ideas. Latrobe submitted his designs first. He thought his plan was chosen. However, the committee chose Robert Mills's plan instead. Mills's design combined a monument with a church. This was a bit awkward because Mills had worked as Latrobe's assistant before.
Latrobe felt a bit insulted and refused to submit other plans. But he did say that Mills was very capable of doing the job.
Mills's plan included a large "monumental porch" at the front. This porch is 32 feet square. The main part of the church is an octagon, or eight-sided shape. Inside the church, the pulpit is placed in a special curved area. This area was designed to make sounds carry well. A low, round dome covers the main part of the church. The design used large shapes and not much decoration. The brown color of the Aquia stone sandstone made the building look serious and important.
Some people have criticized the design over the years. In 1939, a magazine called Architectural Record said the design had some problems.
Present Use of the Church
In 2004, Monumental Church went through a big renovation. This means it was carefully repaired and updated.
A documentary film called Saving Grace-Resurrecting American History shows this process. Laser scanners were used to measure the building very precisely. This data was sent to Ireland. There, stonecutters used both high-tech computers and old-fashioned tools. They created a new 7,000-pound monument for the church.
Since 2006, regular tours of Monumental Church have been offered. These tours are part of the Valentine Richmond History Center's "Court End Passport" program. The building is also sometimes used for other private events.
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