Old Stone Church
Also known as: Green Spring Church; Stone Church--0034-0023
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Why it's listed
Old Stone Church is a small limestone meetinghouse on a knoll above farmland in the Green Spring community of northern Frederick County, Virginia. Built around 1820 for a German Lutheran congregation, it was rebuilt in 1838 after a fire. Its single story, three-bay form and tin gable roof follow the plain meetinghouse pattern common in early nineteenth-century Virginia. Inside, a partition divides the sanctuary from a schoolroom, and original-looking pine woodwork, chestnut pews, a schoolmaster's desk and a cast iron box stove survive. Electricity and plumbing have never been installed. It is listed for its architecture: it is the earliest surviving Lutheran church and the second oldest surviving stone church in the county. A cemetery with more than 425 graves, stone gate pillars, a well and later additions share the grounds. A memorial association formed in 1927 still maintains the property, which hosts annual reunions and other gatherings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is architecturally significant under Criterion C as the earliest surviving Lutheran church and the second oldest surviving stone church in Frederick County. It has kept its integrity for nearly two centuries, with an interior little changed since the mid-nineteenth century and no electricity or plumbing. It also served as a meetinghouse, school and community gathering place for German settlers.
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 01000689, listed July 5, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Approx. 1 mi. W of jct. of VA 671 and VA 739, Whitehall |
|---|---|
| County | Frederick County |
| Listed | July 5, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000689 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820-1838 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained by the Old Stone Church Memorial Association as a museum and outdoor recreation site; no active congregation or school, but it hosts reunions, picnics and weddings, and burials still occur in the cemetery. |
| Acreage | 3.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.30114, -78.16787 (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 01000689.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713022
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.