Westover Church facts for kids
|
Westover Church
|
|
Westover Church, 1930, by Frances Benjamin Johnston
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 5 mi. W of Charles City off VA 5, Charles City, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Built | 1731 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001502 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | December 05, 1972 |
Westover Church is a very old and important church in Virginia. It is located about 5 miles west of Charles City, near Virginia State Route 5. This historic church was built in 1731. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 because of its special history.
Some important people are buried near where the first Westover Church stood. These include Theodorick Bland of Westover, Walter Aston, and William Byrd I. It is also believed that Benjamin Harrison IV's tomb is on the church grounds.
Contents
History of Westover Church
Early Church Communities
Between 1611 and 1613, early colonists moved west from Jamestown. They formed several small church areas, called parishes. Some of these were Weyanoke, Wallingford, and Wilmington. These smaller parishes later joined together. By 1625, they became known as Westover Parish. In 1724, Westover Parish became the same area as Charles City County, and it still is today.
Building the Church
The church building that came before the current Westover Church was built between 1630 and 1637. It was located on the grounds of Westover Plantation. The church building you see today was finished around 1730. It was built at its current spot on Herring Creek, about 1.5 miles north of the Westover mansion.
Times of Change and Decline
When the American Revolution began in 1776, the government stopped supporting the church with taxes. Then, in 1784, the Church of England was no longer the official church in America. This led to a difficult time for Westover Church. It was finally left empty in 1803. For about 30 years, no church services were held in Charles City County. During this time, the church building was even used as a barn.
Restoration and Revival
Around 1833, church services started again. This happened thanks to a missionary named Reverend Parke Farley Berkeley. The church building was repaired and made new again. The Harrison family from nearby Berkeley Plantation and the Carters from Shirley Plantation helped a lot with this work.
The Civil War and Beyond
During the American Civil War, the church was badly damaged. Federal troops used the church as a stable for their horses. After the war ended, services began again in 1867. Since then, Westover Church has been used regularly for worship.
Many people have attended services at Westover Church over the years. These include local farmers, plantation owners, and even several US Presidents. Some of the Presidents who worshiped there were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Theodore Roosevelt.
