Throughout the 19th century, Virginia’s Episcopalians, though few in number, constituted much of the state’s landed gentry. As a result, country Episcopal churches tended to be quite small but are noteworthy for their architectural finesse. A particularly comely example is the tiny St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Powhatan County, completed in 1844. Executed with beautiful brickwork and Classical Revival detailing, the building is a testament to William Henry Harrison, an Englishman and veteran of the Battle of Waterloo, who settled in Powhatan County in 1827. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was built on land owned by Harrison, who supervised all phases of the church’s construction, even the making of its bricks. Consecrated in 1845, the church was praised by Bishop John Johns for its beauty, though he lamented its small size. A chancel was added in 1890 and a sacristy and vestry rooms in 1915. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church continues to serve descendants of original members.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Programs
DHR has secured permanent legal protection for over 700 historic places - including 15,000 acres of battlefield lands
DHR has erected 2,532 highway markers in every county and city across Virginia
DHR has registered more than 3,317 individual resources and 613 historic districts
DHR has engaged over 450 students in 3 highway marker contests
DHR has stimulated more than $4.2 billion dollars in private investments related to historic tax credit incentives, revitalizing communities of all sizes throughout Virginia