Upper Church, Stratton Major Parish
Why it's listed
Upper Church is a colonial brick church on Route 14 near Shanghai, King and Queen County, Virginia. Believed to have been built between 1724 and 1729, it is the only surviving colonial church among those that once served Stratton Major Parish, which was created in 1655. Anglicans abandoned it in 1768 when a new parish church opened. Baptists later used it until about 1842, then a school occupied it until fire destroyed the roof and interior. The church was rebuilt within the original walls in 1850 and later came under Methodist control; a Methodist congregation still uses it. The rectangular building has a steep gable roof, Flemish bond walls with glazed headers, rubbed and gauged brick details and round gable windows. Its molded brick doorways are considered especially fine. A modern addition hides most of the west doorway, and the interior has no original fabric. Despite these changes, it is regarded as an architecturally sophisticated example of early eighteenth-century Virginia church design.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving colonial church of those that served Stratton Major Parish. The nomination calls it one of the most architecturally sophisticated early-eighteenth-century churches in Virginia and a classic example of the rectilinear church form. It is noted for its proportions, glazed Flemish bond brickwork and high-quality molded 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 73002030, listed April 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Shanghai on VA 14, Shanghai |
|---|---|
| County | King and Queen County |
| Listed | April 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002030 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial rectilinear church form |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; still owned and used by a Methodist congregation, which calls it Old Church. Altered by a modern addition and the loss of its original wooden parts. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 37.60303, -76.77013 (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 73002030.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713416
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.