Grace Episcopal Church (Keswick, Virginia) Explained

Grace Church
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:February 17, 1976[1]
Designated Other1 Number:002-0043
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:Northeast of Cismont on VA 231, Keswick, Virginia
Coordinates:38.0608°N -78.3086°W
Built:1847, 1895
Architect:William Strickland
Architecture:Gothic Revival
Added:October 21, 1976
Refnum:76002091

Grace Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church located at 5607 Gordonsville Road in Keswick, Albemarle County, Virginia, United States. The Gothic Revival building was designed by architect William Strickland in 1847. It is the only known work of Strickland in Virginia. The interior was rebuilt after a fire in 1895.[2]

"Both the church and the hunt club have a long history in Keswick. The congregation dates back to 1745 as one of the first six churches in the Virginia colony back when the Church of England was the official state-sanctioned religion. The original church was replaced with a new building in 1855 but a fire two decades later left only the tower and walls standing. Those were incorporated into the current church when it was rebuilt at the site north of Cismont on Route 231. The church’s 1,575-pound bell was salvaged and is still in use. In fact, it will ring 10 times at 9:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day to announce the 10 a.m. prayer service, calling the congregation, hunters, steeds and dogs together."[3]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 21, 1976.

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 2013-05-12.
  2. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Grace Episcopal Church. Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Historic Resources. Virginia Landmarks Commission Staff . January 1976. and Accompanying photo
  3. McKenzie, Bryan. 2017. "Albemarle County church to hold 89th annual Blessing of the Hounds." The Roanoke Times. November 23, 2017.