St. John's Church
Also known as: Chuckatuck Church
Why it's listed
St. John's Church, also known as Chuckatuck Church, is a brick parish church set in a churchyard of old cedars, sycamores and boxwood above a pond formed by Cedar Creek, east of Chuckatuck, Virginia. It is the third church on the site; the first was built around 1643 and the second was replaced by the present building, completed in 1755. The walls are laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers, and some bricks bear initials linked to Anthony and Esther Holladay, who gave the land. Unlike most colonial churches, its chancel faces northeast. The church was abandoned after the Revolution, repaired and returned to service in 1826, and dedicated to St. John in 1828. The interior was rebuilt with wood panelling in 1888. It was listed for its fine brickwork, its rectilinear colonial form, its unusual orientation, and its vestry's challenge to Governor Nicholson's authority over the induction of ministers.
Significance in brief: The church is presented as an important example of the rectilinear form of Virginia's colonial ecclesiastical architecture, with fine glazed-header Flemish bond brickwork. It is unusual in that its chancel faces northeast rather than the usual east-west orientation. It is also remembered for its vestry's challenge to Governor Francis Nicholson over the induction of ministers.
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 73002149, listed April 11, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Chuckatuck on VA 125, Chuckatuck (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk |
| Listed | April 11, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002149 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 1755) |
| Architectural style | Colonial ecclesiastical architecture (rectilinear form) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, on its original site, occupied and in religious use. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 36.85720, -76.56096 (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 73002149.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588629
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.