Second Presbyterian Church
Also known as: DHR File No. 123-42
Why it's listed
Second Presbyterian Church, at the corner of West Washington and Lafayette streets in Petersburg, was built in 1861-1862 during the opening of the Civil War. Its stucco-covered brick walls, sandstone trim, buttresses, crenellated tower and stained glass follow Gothic Revival design, and its pastor, Theodorick Pryor, is credited as architect. The interior is unusual for the style, with a square plan, a flat ceiling, a ceiling pendant and medallions, and an ogival arch framing the apse and pulpit. Much of the ornament is iron cast by the Tappey and Lumsden Foundry in Petersburg. The first steeple fell in a storm in 1862, and later steeples were lost or replaced, the present one dating from 1984. The church was listed for its architecture and its Civil War associations, including pastor John Miller's service as a Confederate artillery captain and a Federal shell that lodged in its wall in 1865.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the most significant Gothic church in Petersburg and, according to the authors of Virginia's Ante-Bellum Churches, the most rococo of the state's Gothic churches. Its intact interior includes iron ornament cast in Petersburg during the Civil War. The church is also tied to the war through its pastors Theodorick Pryor and John Miller and through events in the 1864-65 siege.
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 90002114, listed January 14, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 419 W. Washington St., Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | January 14, 1991 |
| Reference number | 90002114 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Pryor, Theodorick |
| Architectural style | Early Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; the steeple was rebuilt in 1984 and education wings were added over time. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Folly Castle Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 37.22680, -77.41020 (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 90002114.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.