Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 07/31/1980
NRHP Listing Date 10/31/1980
NRHP Reference Number 80004213
The fourth church of one of the Commonwealth’s oldest Episcopal parishes, Brandon Church is an expression of the ecclesiastical architectural taste at the time of the revival of the Episcopal Church in Virginia in the mid-19th century. Although its architect has not been documented, the Tuscan-style building, with its pink stuccoed walls and corner tower, resembles the Italianate designs of the Baltimore firm of Niernsee and Neilson. The church was consecrated in 1857 and stands across the road from the site of the parish’s 18th-century church. The choir loft preserves the church’s 1873 Henry Erben pipe organ. A chalice and paten, given in 1656, are believed to be the nation’s oldest communion service in continuous possession of the original parish. The parish was established in 1655 and was named for Martin’s Brandon, land patented by John Martin in 1618.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: November 4, 2021
