St. Peter's Church (New Kent, Virginia)
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St. Peter's Church
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St. Peter's Church
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| Location | 8400 Saint Peters Lane Talleysville, Virginia 23124 (New Kent mailing address) |
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| Coordinates | 37°32′24″N 77°03′24″W / 37.54000°N 77.05667°WCoordinates: 37°32′24″N 77°03′24″W / 37.54000°N 77.05667°W |
| Built | 1703 |
| NRHP Reference # | 69000263 |
| VLR # | 063-0027 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | March 2, 2012 |
| Designated VLR | November 5, 1968 |
St. Peter's Church is a historic Episcopal church near Talleysville, Virginia, United States. Built in 1703, the church was designated as "The First Church of the First First-Lady" by the Virginia General Assembly in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on March 2, 2012, as an exceptionally well-preserved colonial-era church.
St. Peter's Church was established in New Kent County, Virginia, on April 29, 1679. Construction began in 1701 (at a cost of 146,000 weight of tobacco, and was complete by 1703. The steeple was erected 12 years later. The builder of nearby Foster's Castle, Colonel Joseph Foster, was a vestryman and supervised construction at St. Peter's Church.
Another vestryman, Colonel Daniel Parke Custis, married Martha Dandridge in June 1749. She became a widow after only eight years of marriage. On January 6, 1759, the Rector of St. Peter's, Rev. David Mossom, united Martha Custis and Colonel George Washington in marriage. Debate ensues over the exact location of the marriage; some believe it occurred within the church while others believe it took place a few miles away at the White House Plantation on the Pamunkey River.
Following the American Revolution and disestablishment of what had become the Episcopal Church and confiscation of vacant glebes in 1802 legislation, this church was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Sometime around 1820, Presbyterians started worshiping at the church. Episcopalian services began again in 1843. Both denominations shared the church, alternating weeks, until 1865.
Because of its central location in New Kent County about 30 miles from Richmond, the church suffered greatly during the Civil War. Union soldiers stabled their horses in the pews and carved their names in the brick exterior. On October 23, 1869 General Robert E. Lee wrote “St. Peters is the church where General Washington was married and attended in early life. It would be a shame to America if allowed to go to destruction.” His son, General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee oversaw the partial restoration in 1872.
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