Byrd Presbyterian Church
Also known as: DHR File no. 37-16
Why it's listed
Set among rolling farmland four miles west of Goochland Court House, this brick Presbyterian church was begun in 1837 and finished the following year. It is a simple rectangular building with a gable roof, Flemish bond on the front, common bond elsewhere, and its original slate roof. Local builders Valentine Parrish and Albert Cosby may have worked on it. Inside, a pressed metal ceiling and reconfigured pews date from 1880s updates, while carved wooden window valances with pulley systems for Venetian blinds survive as a rare mid-19th-century feature. A large cemetery with graves from the 1850s lies behind the church. The congregation descends from groups gathered by the Reverend Samuel Davies in the 1740s. It also hosted the first countywide Sunday School in 1934. The property was recognized for its architecture, combining typical rural church design with unusually well-preserved original features and setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church satisfies Criterion C as both typical and unusual among 19th-century rural Virginia churches. It is typical in size and location, but unusual for its surviving original slate roof, carved window valances for Venetian blinds, interior fittings, unspoiled setting and large, continuously used cemetery. Its congregation also traces back to the 1748 work of Samuel Davies, linking it to Presbyterian history and religious toleration in Virginia.
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 00001438, listed November 22, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2229 Dogtown Rd., Goochland |
|---|---|
| County | Goochland County |
| Listed | November 22, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001438 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1837-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Possibly Valentine Parrish and possibly Albert Cosby |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century, Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility with an active cemetery; a brick wing was added at the rear in 1952. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.71399, -77.93961 (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 00001438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5004229
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.