Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg
Why it's listed
Built in 1833 at the corner of George and Princess Anne Streets, this brick church is a leading example of Jeffersonian Roman Revival design. Its temple-form front has a recessed portico, Doric columns and pilasters, a pedimented gable and a square bell tower whose frieze copies one at the University of Virginia. The design was based on Jefferson's plans for Christ Church in Charlottesville, and it was the first public building in Fredericksburg raised in temple form. The architect is unknown, though the details resemble work by two of Jefferson's University of Virginia craftsmen. During the Civil War the building was used by Union troops and as a hospital after the December 1862 battle, where Clara Barton tended the wounded. Heavily damaged, it was rebuilt in 1866, and later nineteenth-century changes were removed in a 1947 restoration. Today the exterior closely matches an 1835 sketch, and the congregation still uses the building.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it among the finest surviving examples of Jeffersonian Roman Revival architecture. It was the first public building in Fredericksburg built in temple form and a prototype for similar churches. It also served as a hospital for Union wounded during the Civil War, where Clara Barton nursed soldiers after the 1862 battle.
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 84003534, listed March 1, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Princess Anne and George Sts., Fredericksburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Fredericksburg |
| Listed | March 1, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003534 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (architect not identified); form suggests possible involvement of Malcolm B. Crawford and William B. Phillips |
| Architectural style | Jeffersonian Roman Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use; condition listed as excellent, with exterior restored to its pre-war appearance in 1947. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.30193, -77.46023 (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 84003534.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713097
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.