St. Peter's Church (New Kent, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
St. Peter's Church is an Episcopal church in New Kent, Virginia
, United States
. Built in 1703, the church was designated as "The First Church of the First First-Lady" by the Virginia General Assembly
in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
, on April 29, 1679. Construction began in 1701 and was complete by 1703.
One of St. Peter's vestrymen, Colonel Daniel Parke Custis
, married Martha Dandridge
in June 1749. She became a widow after only eight years of marriage. On January 6, 1759, the Rector of St. Peter's united Martha Custis and Colonel George Washington
in marriage. Debate ensues over the exact location of the marriage; some believe it occurred within the church while others believe it took place a few miles away at the White House Plantation on the Pamunkey River
.
Following the American Revolution, the church was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Sometime around 1820, Presbyterians started worshiping at the church. Episcopalian services began again in 1843. Both denominations shared the church, alternating weeks, until 1865.
Being centrally located in New Kent County, the church suffered greatly during the Civil War. Union soldiers stabled their horses in the pews and carved their names in the brick exterior. On October 23, 1869 General Robert E. Lee
wrote “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
oversaw the partial restoration in 1872.
After being designated as “The First Church of the First First-Lady” by the Virginia General Assembly
in 1960, restoration again began on the church with the assistance of architectural and ecclesiological experts. The renovation required making structural improvements to the church and completely gutting the interior.
The original south doorway and several windows had been bricked up but have been restored as have the curvilinear gable ends for which evidence was found in the fabric of the building during the 1940's and again during the restoration work of 1951-52. Much of the interior and exterior has been restored or replaced in what is thought to be its original condition.
New Kent, Virginia
New Kent is a census-designated place in and the county seat of New Kent County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 239.-References:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1703, the church was designated as "The First Church of the First First-Lady" by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
History
St. Peter's Church was established in New Kent County, VirginiaNew Kent County, Virginia
At the 2000 census, there were 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 per square mile . There were 5,203 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, on April 29, 1679. Construction began in 1701 and was complete by 1703.
One of St. Peter's vestrymen, Colonel Daniel Parke Custis
Daniel Parke Custis
Daniel Parke Custis was a wealthy Virginia planter whose widow, Martha, married George Washington.He was the son of John Custis , a powerful member of Virginia's Governor's Council, and Frances Parke Custis...
, married Martha Dandridge
Martha Washington
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States...
in June 1749. She became a widow after only eight years of marriage. On January 6, 1759, the Rector of St. Peter's united Martha Custis and Colonel George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
in marriage. Debate ensues over the exact location of the marriage; some believe it occurred within the church while others believe it took place a few miles away at the White House Plantation on the Pamunkey River
Pamunkey River
The Pamunkey River is a tributary of the York River, about long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. Via the York River it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.-Course:...
.
Following the American Revolution, the church was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Sometime around 1820, Presbyterians started worshiping at the church. Episcopalian services began again in 1843. Both denominations shared the church, alternating weeks, until 1865.
Being centrally located in New Kent County, the church suffered greatly during the Civil War. Union soldiers stabled their horses in the pews and carved their names in the brick exterior. On October 23, 1869 General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
wrote “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
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee , known as Rooney Lee or W.H.F. Lee, was the second son of Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Randolph Custis. He was a planter, a Confederate cavalry General in the American Civil War, and later a member of the U.S. Congress.-Early life:Lee was born at Arlington House in...
oversaw the partial restoration in 1872.
After being designated as “The First Church of the First First-Lady” by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
in 1960, restoration again began on the church with the assistance of architectural and ecclesiological experts. The renovation required making structural improvements to the church and completely gutting the interior.
Architecture
Constructed of brick laid in Flemish bond, St. Peter's measures 64 in 4 in (19.61 m) by 28 foot and is one story high. The gable roof has curvilinear gable ends; segmental arches appear over the windows of the church and the open arches of the tower which was added in the mid-eighteenth century replacing an earlier wooden belfry. The two-story brick tower is of Flemish bond with some glazing and has a pyramidal roof. The top of the tower is also decorated by four original stuccoed brick urns. A wing was added sometime before the Revolution but was removed in the middle of the nineteenth century.The original south doorway and several windows had been bricked up but have been restored as have the curvilinear gable ends for which evidence was found in the fabric of the building during the 1940's and again during the restoration work of 1951-52. Much of the interior and exterior has been restored or replaced in what is thought to be its original condition.