Church of the Sacred Heart Parish
Also known as: Sacred Heart Parish of New Bohemia; Dhr Id# 074-5021
Why it's listed
Sacred Heart Parish occupies just over 12 acres in New Bohemia, a community southeast of Petersburg settled by Czech farmers from 1887. The complex includes a brick Gothic Revival church completed in 1951, a one-story frame Parish Hall dating to 1908, and a cemetery with burials since 1908. A 1962 rectory, a 1967 parish center and a 2006 sanctuary that echoes the older church's style are later additions. The parish began with a wooden church in 1906 and was the first Czech Catholic parish in Virginia. Its hall hosted dances, meetings, a short-lived public school and a Bohemian-Slavonic farmers' insurance society, while services were conducted in Czech into the mid-20th century. Grave markers and the 1951 church's conventional design show the community's shift toward American practice. Highway and industrial development in the 1990s erased most of New Bohemia's farms and homes, leaving this complex as the main landmark of the Czech settlement, now also serving Spanish-speaking newcomers.
Significance in brief: The complex is the most significant surviving property of New Bohemia and the first Czech Catholic parish in Virginia. It served as the religious, social and cultural center of the Czech farming community from 1906 onward. The church, hall and cemetery together show the community's gradual acculturation, as Czech-language use faded by the mid-20th century.
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 12000020, listed February 8, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9300 Community Ln., Petersburg |
|---|---|
| County | Prince George County |
| Listed | February 8, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000020 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905 - 1952 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | European |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active parish. The 1951 church is now a gathering space and chapel connected to a 2006 sanctuary, and the cemetery remains active with about ten interments a year. |
| Acreage | 12.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.18758, -77.32295 (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 12000020.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5118046
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.