Hungars Church
Also known as: Hungars Parish Church
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Why it's listed
Hungars Parish Church is a one-story brick colonial church in Bridgetown, on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Begun in 1742 and finished by 1751, it is the third church built for the parish, following earlier buildings of about 1646 and 1681. The walls are laid in Flemish bond, with a beveled watertable, rubbed brick corners and round-headed doors and windows topped by gauged brick arches. The church was abandoned after Disestablishment, returned to service in 1819, and declared unsafe in 1851. That year Thomas H. Stevenson shortened it from about 92 feet to 74 feet, 8 inches. It had been the longest church in colonial Virginia. Further repairs came in 1892, 1922, 1950 and 1955. Inside, four tall fluted heart pine columns may be original, and some authorities think the baldachino may be colonial. The parish also owns one of the few complete sets of colonial communion silver. Its size and clearing of pines make it a memorable landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its architecture and its place in religion, noting brick details such as gauged rubbed brick arches and its early size, once the longest church in colonial Virginia. It also owns one of the few complete sets of colonial communion silver. Its size and setting in a clearing of pines make it a memorable structure on the Eastern Shore.
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 70000813, listed October 15, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of jct. of Rtes. 619 and 622, Bridgetown |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | October 15, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000813 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Thomas H. Stevenson of Snow Hill, Maryland (1851 shortening of the building) |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site, and in religious use. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 37.44634, -75.92395 (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 70000813.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14692007
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.