St. Peter's Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1834, St. Peter's Church at the corner of 8th and Grace Streets in Richmond is the city's oldest Roman Catholic church and was the first church on what is now Grace Street. It served as a cathedral from 1850, when Richmond became a separate diocese, until the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart opened in 1905. The building is a fine example of Roman Revival style, an elongated cruciform of stuccoed brick. Its facade has a slender pedimented portico with coupled Doric columns, a stepped parapet hiding the roof line, and a cupola capped by an octagonal dome. A Doric entablature surrounds the whole building. Inside, Doric pilasters with Ionic capitals divide the bays, and the shallow transepts and semicircular apse survive with few alterations. Notable worshippers included Governor Littleton Tazewell and General Beauregard. Facing St. Paul's Episcopal Church, it contributes to the character of the western end of Capitol Square.
Significance in brief: It was the first church built on what is now Grace Street and served as the cathedral church from 1850, when Richmond became a separate diocese, until 1905. It is also described as a fine example of Roman Revival architecture and one of the gems of nineteenth-century ecclesiastical architecture in Richmond. Together with St. Paul's Episcopal Church across the street, it adds to the view at the western end of Capitol Square.
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 69000358, listed June 23, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 800 E. Grace St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | June 23, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000358 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1834) |
| Architectural style | Roman Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied; the interior has suffered few serious alterations and survives in excellent repair. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.54067, -77.43521 (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 69000358.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591341
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.