Glebe House of St. Anne's Parish
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Why it's listed
Set on open farmland overlooking Occupacia Creek near the Rappahannock River, this two-story brick house served as the glebe house, or rectory, of St. Anne's Parish in Essex County. It measures about 50 by 20 feet and has Flemish-bond walls with glazed headers, gauged jack arches, rubbed brick corners and interior end chimneys with corbeled caps. Construction date is uncertain, but the brickwork points to the early eighteenth century, possibly alongside the 1731 addition to nearby Vauter's Church. The parish owned the land from 1714 until the state ordered glebe lands sold in 1802, and the house passed into private hands in 1803. Its first occupant was the Scottish minister Robert Rose, who arrived in 1725. Only about a dozen Virginia glebe houses survive, and this one is regarded as among the oldest and finest. The house is now unoccupied, and its mantels, floors and woodwork are stored inside for restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a significant example of a rare colonial building type, since only about a dozen glebe houses survive in Virginia. It is described as one of the oldest and most architecturally distinguished, with outstanding Flemish-bond brickwork. It may be the oldest brick house in Essex County, and it is linked to a dispute over the vestry's power to appoint 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 75002020, listed March 3, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2.5 mi. NE of Champlain on N bank of Farmers Hall Creek, Champlain |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 3, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75002020 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Georgian elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied and awaiting restoration; the interior woodwork and floors have been removed and stored in the house. Condition is marked deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 635 |
| Within district | Occupacia-Rappahannock Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.03341, -76.96015 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 75002020.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712363
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.