Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Also known as: Dhr 72-13
Why it's listed
Emmanuel Episcopal Church is a modest red brick church in rural Powhatan County, Virginia, painted white and built in a vernacular Gothic Revival style. Its stepped gable parapets, slim buttresses, octagonal corner spires, and deeply moulded window trim show careful detailing despite the plain overall form. A half-octagonal apse at the west end served as a vestry, and the interior keeps its double aisle, simple pews, lancet-arched altar rail, original font and altar chairs. The congregation grew from the older Peterville Church and moved closer to the courthouse in the 1840s. Philip St. George Cocke donated the land and had the bricks made at Belmead, and the church was consecrated in 1847. The nomination suggests, without proof, that architect A.J. Davis helped Cocke with the design. Copies or close relatives of the church exist elsewhere in Virginia. Later changes, including a 1967 parish house, left the original building largely intact, which underlies its architectural importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of Virginia's oldest and best-preserved Gothic Revival churches, retaining much of its original exterior and interior. It also reflects the 1830s-1840s revival of the Episcopal Church in Virginia after disestablishment. Its design was used as a model for other churches, and it is attributed, though not proven, to A.J. Davis and Philip St. George Cocke.
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 90001924, listed December 27, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Emmanuel Church Rd. S of US 60, Powhatan |
|---|---|
| County | Powhatan County |
| Listed | December 27, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001924 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1842-1850 |
| Architect / builder | Davis, Alexander Jackson?; Cocke, Gen. Philip St. George |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In a good state of repair with no major deterioration; the original cemetery is intact. Still used as a religious structure. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 37.56017, -77.95438 (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 90001924.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15216613
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.