Mattaponi Church
Why it's listed
Mattaponi Church is a brick colonial church in the shape of a Latin cross, set in a churchyard clearing near Cumnor in King and Queen County, Virginia. It began as the Lower Church of St. Stephen's Parish, formed around 1674, and took its present name from the nearby Mattaponi River in the early nineteenth century. The present building is the second on the site, dated either to 1730-34 or to about 1755. After the Revolution and Disestablishment the Anglican congregation abandoned it, and Baptists took it over in 1803 and have used it since. A fire in 1922 left only the exterior walls standing, and the interior dates from the restoration. Walls of Flemish bond brick with glazed headers, rubbed and gauged brick details, and three doorways with molded brick pediments make it an excellent example of Virginia's cruciform colonial churches. Three colonial graves, including members of Carter Braxton's family, lie nearby.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of the cruciform type of Virginia colonial church architecture. It is noted for its glazed Flemish bond brickwork and molded brick doorways, which are well preserved. It also has a long religious history, passing from an Anglican parish church to Baptist use in 1803.
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 73002027, listed March 20, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.5 mi. S of Cumnor off VA 14, Cumnor |
|---|---|
| County | King and Queen County |
| Listed | March 20, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002027 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | Cruciform (Latin cross) Virginia colonial ecclesiastical architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition and altered; in religious use by a Baptist congregation. Fire gutted the interior in 1922, and it was restored to use immediately. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 37.71852, -76.88576 (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 73002027.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712803
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.