Ware Parish Church
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Ware Parish Church is a rectangular brick church set in a large wooded churchyard enclosed by a colonial brick wall, southeast of Route 14 near Gloucester Court House. The building measures about 81 by 41 feet and has walls over three feet thick, laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers. Rubbed brick marks the corners, jambs and arches. Although the roof covering and cornice are modern, the sashes and several interior elements are thought to be colonial. Ware is the only rectangular colonial church to keep its three original entrances, and its pedimented brick doorways are very early examples of a form typical of colonial Virginia churches. The parish was formed in 1657. The present church was once dated to 1693, but 1715 is now accepted on architectural evidence. It was built during the rectorship of James Clack, who is buried beside the chancel wall. Soldiers camped at the church during the Revolution and the Civil War, and repairs followed in 1827, 1854 and 1878.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the earliest churches in Virginia and an excellent example of the rectangular colonial Virginia church. Its glazed Flemish bond brickwork survives in a remarkable state of preservation. It is the only colonial rectangular church to keep its three original entrances in unaltered form, and these are very early examples of pedimented brick doorways.
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 73002018, listed March 20, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Gloucester on VA 14, Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Gloucester County |
| Listed | March 20, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002018 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 1715) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Virginia rectangular church |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; altered; on original site; occupied and in religious use. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 37.42268, -76.50728 (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 73002018.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7969252
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.