St. Peter's Church (Talleysville, Virginia) facts for kids
|
St. Peter's Church
|
|
St. Peter's Church
|
|
 Location in Virginia
|
|
| Location | 8400 Saint Peters Lane Talleysville, Virginia 23124 (New Kent mailing address) |
|---|---|
| Built | 1703 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000263 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | March 2, 2012 |
St. Peter's Church is a very old Episcopal church located near Talleysville, Virginia, in the United States. It was built way back in 1703.
This church is special because it was called "The First Church of the First First-Lady" by the Virginia General Assembly in 1960. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Later, in 2012, it became a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a really important historical building from the colonial times.
Contents
The Story of St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church was started in New Kent County, Virginia, on April 29, 1679. Building the church began in 1701. It cost a lot back then: 146,000 pounds of tobacco! The church was finished by 1703. The tall steeple was added 12 years later. Colonel Joseph Foster, who built a nearby place called Foster's Castle, helped supervise the church's construction.
Martha Washington's Connection
A man named Colonel Daniel Parke Custis was also involved with the church. He married Martha Dandridge in June 1749. Sadly, he passed away after only eight years of marriage.
On January 6, 1759, Martha Custis married Colonel George Washington. The wedding was performed by Rev. David Mossom, who was the church's leader. People still discuss exactly where they got married. Some think it was inside St. Peter's Church itself. Others believe it happened a few miles away at the White House Plantation.
Challenges After the Revolution
After the American Revolution, the Episcopal Church faced tough times. This church was left empty and started to fall apart. Around 1820, a different group, the Presbyterians, began using the church for their services.
Episcopal services started again in 1843. For a while, both groups shared the church. They took turns using it on different weeks until 1865.
The Civil War's Impact
Because of its location, St. Peter's Church was badly damaged during the American Civil War. Many of its old records from before the war were lost. Union soldiers even kept their horses inside the church, using the pews as stables. They carved their names into the brick walls outside.
On October 23, 1869, General Robert E. Lee wrote about the church. He said, "St. Peters is the church where General Washington was married and attended in early life. It would be a shame to America if allowed to go to destruction." His son, General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, helped with some repairs in 1872.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
In 1960, the church was given its special title: "The First Church of the First First-Lady." This led to new efforts to fix it up. Experts in architecture and church history helped. The inside of the church was completely redone to make it strong again.
How St. Peter's Church Looks
.jpg)
St. Peter's Church is built from brick. The bricks are laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. The church is about 64 feet (19.5 meters) long and 28 feet (8.6 meters) wide. It has one main story.
The roof has a unique shape with curved ends. The windows have rounded tops. The tower, which was added later, also has rounded openings. This two-story brick tower has a pyramid-shaped roof. At the top of the tower, there are four original decorative urns made of stuccoed brick.
Some parts of the church have been changed over time. An extra wing was added before the Revolution but was removed in the mid-1800s. The original main door on the south side and some windows had been bricked up. But during recent restoration work, these were opened up again. Much of the church, both inside and out, has been carefully repaired or replaced to look like it did originally.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Virginia
- List of the oldest buildings in Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in New Kent County, Virginia
