Grace Church
Also known as: Grace Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Grace Church is a small brick country church in the former town of Ca Ira, Cumberland County, Virginia. Built between 1840 and 1843 by local master builder Valentine Parrish, it measures about 32 by 48 feet and follows a temple form with Flemish bond brickwork, a cove cornice, and a slate roof. Inside, a gallery rests on Doric columns, and the paneled pulpit draws on plates from Asher Benjamin's Practical House Carpenter. The church combines Roman, Greek and Gothic Revival elements with careful craftsmanship. Ca Ira was a milling and tobacco town that declined after the Civil War, and the church was abandoned near the end of the nineteenth century. Descendants of the congregation formed a restoration society in 1928, restored the building, and revived annual homecoming services in 1954. The church and its small cemetery occupy about two-thirds of an acre and are among the few surviving traces of the town.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a skillful blend of Roman, Greek and Gothic Revival elements, with Jeffersonian temple form and brickwork and details adapted from builders' pattern books such as Asher Benjamin's. It is also one of the few surviving buildings of the town of Ca Ira. Its completion revived the inactive Littleton parish, reflecting the Episcopal Church's revival in Virginia before the Civil War.
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 80004185, listed October 30, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Cumberland on VA 632, Ca Ira |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | October 30, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004185 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Col. Valentine Parrish w/ Albert Mann |
| Architectural style | Roman, Greek, and Gothic Revival elements on a temple-form country church |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and unaltered on the original site; restored after 1928 and maintained in good repair, with annual homecoming services. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 37.48349, -78.32873 (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 80004185.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5591039
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.