Wickliffe Church
Also known as: VDHR No. 21-89
Why it's listed
Wickliffe Church, a brick Greek Revival building of 1846, sits on a knoll beside Route 608 in northeastern Clarke County, Virginia. It replaced a stone church of 1819 that burned or was declared unsafe and was dismantled. The bricks were burned on the neighboring Smithfield farm, and construction was overseen by Jaquelin Smith. The church has a distyle in antis portico with Doric columns, stepped gable ends, an open belfry and a plain interior of white plaster, oak box pews and an oak communion rail. A small vestry room was added later, but little else has changed, and the building has no modern electrical or plumbing fixtures. A cemetery lies behind it. The congregation declined and moved to Grace Episcopal Church in Berryville in 1918, yet the building is still maintained and used for an annual homecoming service. It was listed as a well-preserved example of an antebellum Episcopal church reflecting the tastes of local planters.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a well-preserved, almost pristine example of an antebellum Episcopal church in the Greek Revival style. It reflects the architectural tastes of the wealthy planters who directed its construction. It has changed little since 1846 apart from a later vestry addition.
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 95000241, listed March 17, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 608, E side, .5 mi. S of VA--WV line, Berryville |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | March 17, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000241 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1846 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Not in regular use since 1918, but maintained by trustees of Grace Church; hosts an annual August homecoming service and occasional weddings and special events. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Long Marsh Run Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.16598, -77.89165 (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 95000241.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713529
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.