Westover Church
Why it's listed
Westover Church is a rectangular brick church of 1731 set in a grove above Herring Creek, a branch of the James River, reached by a lane through fields near Charles City. It measures about 60 by 28 feet inside and is laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers. The parish it serves is among the oldest in the country, recorded as early as 1625. The first church stood upriver near the original Westover plantation house, and its churchyard holds a stone said to be the oldest in Virginia. After 1805 the building was abandoned for nearly thirty years and often served as a barn. Changes came in 1867, when a west gallery and vestry were added and the floor was raised. A later restoration by Orin M. Bullock, Jr. replaced the roof, cornice and ceiling, though the roof trusses are original. Presidents William Henry Harrison, Benjamin Harrison and John Tyler worshipped here, along with families from nearby plantations.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of the rectilinear form of colonial Virginia church architecture and a familiar landmark along Route 5. It also has many historical associations, including the very old Parish of Westover and worship by several presidents and prominent plantation families.
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 72001502, listed December 5, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5 mi. W of Charles City off VA 5, Charles City |
|---|---|
| County | Charles City County |
| Listed | December 5, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001502 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Restoration by Orin M. Bullock, Jr., of Baltimore (original builder not stated) |
| Architectural style | Rectilinear form of colonial Virginia church architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; the form checks occupied, unrestricted public access, and religious use. Restoration by Orin M. Bullock, Jr. included a new roof, cornice and ceiling. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 37.33209, -77.15875 (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 72001502.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7989521
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.