Huguenot Memorial Chapel and Monument
Also known as: Manakin Church; VDHL File 72-93
Why it's listed
Set in a wooded area off Route 711 in Manakin, this simple white weatherboarded chapel was built in 1895 for the parish that began as a refuge for French Protestants in 1700. It measures about 24 by 32 feet and has a steep gable roof, pointed windows and a three-sided projecting narthex. Inside are reused timbers, including a large charred beam that may come from the church of about 1710, which would make it the oldest surviving fragment of a Huguenot building in the country. Some 300 feet north stands a granite monument with a Huguenot cross, carved by Lawson and Newton of Norfolk and dedicated in 1937 by the Society of the Founders of Manakin. The chapel was moved in 1954 and again in 1985 so it could be preserved as a memorial and museum. Together the two resources commemorate the largest Huguenot settlement in colonial America and the descendants who kept its memory alive.
Significance in brief: The chapel and monument recall the 1700 Manakin settlement, the largest Huguenot settlement in colonial America, and the ethnic heritage of Huguenot descendants. The chapel is believed to contain the nation's oldest surviving architectural fragment of a Huguenot building, a beam possibly from the ca. 1710 church. It also stands near the site of the first Huguenot church and has long been a focus of Huguenot tradition. The monument reflects the commemorative values of the generation that dedicated it in 1937.
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 88000214, listed March 23, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 711, Manakin |
|---|---|
| County | Powhatan County |
| Listed | March 23, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000214 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Church: unknown; Marker: Lawson and Newton |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revival: Late Gothic Revival (modified Gothic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | European |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The chapel has been carefully rehabilitated since its 1985 move and is in excellent condition. It is maintained as a Huguenot memorial and museum. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 37.56498, -77.70882 (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 88000214.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5934707
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.