Christ Church
Why it's listed
Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, is a two-story brick church built between 1767 and 1773 to designs by Colonel James Wren. Fairfax Parish had been created in 1765, and its vestry chose Wren as architect. James Parson began construction but could not finish, so John Carlyle took the second contract, and the church was accepted as complete on February 23, 1773. The building measures about 60 by 50 feet, with Flemish bond brick walls, two tiers of windows, white-painted stone quoins, a hipped roof and a Palladian window in the east wall. Wooden galleries were added between 1785 and 1800, and a three-story brick tower followed in 1818. The church was not abandoned during the Revolution or Disestablishment and continued in religious use during the Civil War occupation of Alexandria. For that reason it is regarded as one of the best-preserved churches of its Virginia type. It remains an active church and is open to visitors.
Significance in brief: It is described as probably the finest surviving and least-altered example of the small two-story brick church type used in Virginia in the last third of the 18th century. Unlike other surviving examples of this late-Georgian type, it was never abandoned and its interior was never stripped. Galleries and a tower were added between 1785 and 1818.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000899, listed May 10, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE corner of Cameron and Columbus Sts., Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | May 10, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000899 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Designed by Colonel James Wren; James Parson was first contractor, then John Carlyle, who completed it in 1773 |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 10, 1970 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In excellent condition; still an active church and open to visitors. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Alexandria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.80648, -77.04780 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000899.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5108734
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.