Blandford Church
Why it's listed
Blandford Church is a one-story brick church in Petersburg, Virginia, built in two phases during the eighteenth century. Thomas Ravenscroft completed the original block, about 64 by 29 feet, in 1736 or 1737. Colonel Richard Bland later added a north wing and the surrounding churchyard wall, between 1752 and 1769. The brick is laid mostly in Flemish bond with glazed headers, and the main windows and east doorway have arches of rubbed brick. The church was the third building of Bristol Parish and takes its name from the town of Blandford, now part of Petersburg. The parish moved most services to a new church in Petersburg, and in 1819 the building passed to the town. The city made repairs in 1882, including the slate roof, and in 1901 authorized a restoration. It was modeled on Merchant's Hope Church in Prince George County. Its surviving brickwork and colonial churchyard wall place it among Virginia's important eighteenth-century Anglican churches.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its architecture. It was modeled on Merchant's Hope Church in Prince George County and closely resembles it in form and detailing. Most of its fine brickwork survives, and an eighteenth-century churchyard wall remains. Together these place it among Virginia's important eighteenth-century Anglican churches.
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 72001513, listed May 31, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 319 S. Crater Rd., Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | May 31, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001513 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Mr. Thomas Ravenscroft (original block); Colonel Richard Bland (north wing and wall) |
| Architectural style | Eighteenth-century Anglican church architecture, modeled on Merchant's Hope Church |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site. It is publicly owned and used as a museum. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 37.22605, -77.38752 (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 72001513.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4925012
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.