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Christ Church

Irvington, Lancaster County, Virginia Listed Ref. 66000841 National Historic Landmark Building
Christ Church, Irvington, Virginia
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Why it's listed

Christ Church, near Irvington in Lancaster County, Virginia, is a brick colonial church built on a cruciform plan. Robert "King" Carter, the wealthy son of John Carter, paid for it so that the parish would keep worshipping at the old church site, where John Carter had built an earlier church traditionally dated 1669. Bricks were being made in 1723, the building was probably usable by 1728, and it was likely finished in 1735. The exterior has tall arched windows, rubbed and molded brick doorways with Portland stone trim, and walnut doors. Inside are high-back box pews, a south transept gallery, a cantilevered pulpit with a sounding board, a reredos with the ten commandments, and a marble font that is English. The building has never been altered, though it has been repaired. Its significance rests on its architectural quality, its exceptional preservation among Virginia's colonial churches, and its link to the Carter family and the established church.

Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the outstanding examples of Georgian design and craftsmanship in the United States. It is the most intact of Virginia's colonial churches and the only one to keep its original high-back box pews. Its history also shows the close tie between the established Church of England and Virginia's planter aristocracy.

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 66000841, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).

Key facts

Address3 mi. S of Kilmarnock on VA 3, Irvington
CountyLancaster County
ListedOctober 15, 1966
Reference number66000841
Resource typeBuilding
Period of significance1723-1735
Architect / builderVarious, see Description; built at the expense of Robert "King" Carter
Architectural styleGeorgian
Areas of significanceArchitecture
Level of significanceNational
National Historic LandmarkYes, designated May 30, 1961
Status (as stated in the nomination)Condition good and in use as an active church (1961 survey form); preservation work has been carried out by the Foundation for Historic Christ Church since 1960.
Acreage9.9
Coordinates37.68062, -76.42324 (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

Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.