Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 11/05/1968
NRHP Listing Date 06/23/1969
NRHP Reference Number 69000358
St. Peter’s Church was built in 1834 under the guidance of Father Timothy O’Brien, and is the city’s oldest Roman Catholic church. The Classical Revival building has unusually tall proportions with a façade dominated by a portico of paired Roman Doric columns. Topping the church is an octagonal belfry. Many of St. Peter’s first members were Irish and Germans who helped build the James River and Kanawha Canal. Although a bishop was assigned to Richmond as early as 1829, one did not take up residence here until 1840. St. Peter’s was declared the cathedral of the Diocese of Richmond the following year. Under Bishop John McGill, who came in 1850, the apse and transepts were added in 1855. St. Peter’s retained cathedral status until 1906 when the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was opened. The church continues to serve a downtown parish.
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: September 21, 2021
