Davis Chapel
Also known as: Roberts Chapel; Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church; Dhr#100-5015-0006
Why it's listed
Davis Chapel, later called Roberts Chapel and now Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church, is a two-story brick church on South Washington Street in Alexandria, Virginia. Built in 1834 for African American members of Trinity Methodist Church, it was named for the Rev. Charles A. Davis and renamed in 1845. The vernacular Gothic Revival building was remodeled in 1894 with a new pressed-brick facade, small corner towers, an entrance and stained-glass windows. It is described as the oldest African American church structure in the city. The congregation ran a Sunday school and a secular school, which closed in 1846 and reopened during the Civil War. In 1864 the church organized the Washington Annual Conference, the first conference for African Americans in the Methodist church. It anchored the neighborhoods known as the Bottoms, Hayti and the Hill, and remains in use as a church.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest African American church structure in Alexandria. It housed one of the city's oldest schools and has long served as a social gathering place for the African American community. Its changes from 1834 through 1953 reflect the growth of the congregation.
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 03001428, listed January 16, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 606-A S. Washington St., Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | January 16, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03001428 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1834-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: William Veitch |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic (vernacular Gothic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church and church school. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Alexandria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.80095, -77.04771 (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 03001428.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5241852
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.