Glebe of Westover Parish
Why it's listed
Set among flat, open fields in Charles City County, this five-bay, story-and-a-half brick house was built as the glebe, or minister's residence, of Westover Parish, probably between 1732 and 1757. The parish bought the land near Charles City Court House in 1732. Peter Fontaine, its first minister, served until 1757. The brickwork is Flemish bond with glazed headers, and the house has exterior end chimneys with pent closets. Early in the nineteenth century a rear ell was added, the openings were changed, and a Federal-style entrance with a fanlight was installed. A frame wing was added in the early twentieth century. Only the stair appears to survive from the colonial period. The house was sold in 1807, when Virginia required glebes to be sold. It is one of few glebe houses still standing in the state, and its plain original finish and later decoration shed light on how parishes housed their clergy.
Significance in brief: It is one of a small number of glebe houses still standing in Virginia, with a blend of colonial and Federal features. Its woodwork dates from after its 1807 sale into private hands, suggesting the parish provided only plain quarters for its ministers. The nomination treats it as a potential source of information on the social standing of colonial Anglican clergy.
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 75002108, listed June 5, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Ruthville off VA 615, Ruthville |
|---|---|
| County | Charles City County |
| Listed | June 5, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75002108 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Georgian and Federal elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 96 |
| Coordinates | 37.36203, -77.05339 (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 75002108.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712365
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.