"The
fact that father and son, each in his generation, at their own expense, built
for the glory of God, a sanctuary dedicated to the Christ, speaks something of
true godliness which dwelt in the Virginia Church." [1]
[1] George J. Cleaveland, “The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography.” Review of Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia, 1732, and the Life around It, by Lousie Belote Dawe, Virginia Historical Society, July, 1970, 369.
[1] George J. Cleaveland, “The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography.” Review of Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia, 1732, and the Life around It, by Lousie Belote Dawe, Virginia Historical Society, July, 1970, 369.
The Christ Church of Lancaster that is still standing today
was a great contribution to the colonial Virginia by the Carter men, John and
Robert Carter. This specific church was
constructed two times! The first time
the church was constructed was by John Carter and completed in the year 1670.[1] John’s son, Robert Carter, decided to rebuild
the church at his own expense. A big
reason Robert wanted to renovate the church was for a burial place for his
family. It is also seen that Robert
wanted this church for the people that were important to him because he
reserved one-fourth of its seating capacity for his servants, tenants, and
family. Christ Church is located close
to the Carter’s 8,000 acre plantation.[2]
Robert Carter’s renovation of the Christ Church was finished in 1735 and said to be the most finely crafted Anglican parish church in all of colonial Virginia. The church had towering brick walls, vaulted ceilings, and large compass-headed windows. The members of the Christ Church saw the church as the official, established church of the colony. This made the church an important part of Virginian’s community and politics. People came from all over the colony to socialize and receive spiritual guidance. Today, the church is still standing and considered the best preserved colonial Virginia’s Anglican parish churches.[3] [1] Foundation for Historic Christ Church. “History.” Christchurch1735.org. [2] Robert Alexander Lancaster, eds., Historic Virginia Homes and Churches (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1915), accessed April 19, 2015, http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015025999049;view=1up;seq=356. [3] Foundation for Historic Christ Church. “History.” Christchurch1735.org. |