St. George's Church (Pungoteague, Virginia) facts for kids
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St. George's Church
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St. George's Church in 2008
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | VA 178, NE of jct. with VA 180, Pungoteague, Virginia |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1738, 1880 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000781 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1970 |
St. George's Church is a historic Episcopal church located in Pungoteague, Virginia. It was first started in the 1600s, and the current building was finished in 1738. This makes it the oldest church still standing on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Because of its importance, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Contents
The Story of St. George's Church
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Early Days
The Episcopal faith, also known as Anglican, was brought to Virginia's Eastern Shore by English settlers in the 1620s. They came across the Chesapeake Bay from the famous Jamestown Settlement.
As more people settled in the area, they built smaller churches called chapels of ease. These were for people who lived too far away from the main parish church. One of these chapels was built near a Native American village that later became the town of Pungoteague. This first chapel, probably made of logs, was the beginning of St. George's Church and was standing by 1678.
A New Brick Church
In the 1730s, the community decided to build a bigger, better church. The new brick building was completed around 1738 and was considered very grand for its time. However, after the American Revolution, the church's situation changed. The government of Virginia stopped supporting the Church of England. This meant priests were no longer paid by the government, and many churches had a hard time staying open.
Despite these challenges, St. George's Church survived. It still has a silver communion set from 1734 with the words "This belongs to the Parish of Accomack" engraved on it.
The Civil War and Rebuilding
During the American Civil War, the Union Army controlled the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Soldiers who were protecting a nearby telegraph line camped near St. George's. They used the church building as a stable and kept their horses inside the church's pews, which are the long benches where people sit. This caused a lot of damage.
By the end of the war, the church was in ruins. One of its four wings had been taken apart completely, and everything inside was destroyed. But in 1880, the local community took back the church and began to fix it. They used bricks from the original walls to patch up the parts of the church that are still standing today.
What the Church Looks Like
St. George's Church was designed in the Georgian style, which was popular in the 1700s.
Original Design
Originally, the church was built in a cruciform shape, which means it looked like a cross from above. Inside, it had special seating called box pews and a raised pulpit for the priest to speak from. The building had a special kind of roof called a hipped, gambrel roof, which was not common for churches in Virginia.
The brickwork was done in a pattern called flemish bond, which made the walls look very detailed and decorative. The only picture we have of the church's original design is a drawing made by a reverend named James Wallace Eastburn in 1819.
The Church Today
St. George's Church is still an active church. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. The parish also includes another historic church nearby, St. James Church in Accomac, Virginia.
