St. Paul's Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1766, St. Paul's Church near Owens, Virginia, is a two-story brick building laid out as a true Greek cross, with a hipped roof, modillion cornice and walls in Flemish bond. It is the third church of St. Paul's Parish and occupies the site of the second. Rubbed brick marks the corners, window jambs and arches, giving the building much of its character. The church was reported in ruins around 1812 or 1813, and the county then converted it into a school, adding a second story in the arms and partitioning classrooms. Two of the original doorways were bricked up in 1813, and the north arm was made into rooms for the rector in 1830-31. Control returned to the Episcopalians in 1830, after Methodists and Baptists had also used it. Its significance rests on its rare colonial Greek cross plan and surviving rubbed brickwork. The church also owns an early eighteenth-century communion set made in London in 1720-21.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally important as one of the very few colonial churches built in a true Greek cross form. It is also distinguished by the large amount of rubbed brick surviving on its corners and openings. The church is the third building of St. Paul's Parish and stands on the site of the second.
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 73002028, listed May 25, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Owens off VA 206, Owens |
|---|---|
| County | King George County |
| Listed | May 25, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002028 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek cross plan, colonial church |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as good condition, altered, on its original site, occupied and in religious use. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 38.33235, -77.12470 (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 73002028.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.