Westover Church

The Parish of Westover is one of the oldest in the country, being recognized in colonial records as early as 1625 - no church building was known to have existed at this time, however. The first church of the Westover Parish stood approximately one hundred yards away from the Westover Planation house, which is upriver from the present church. This first church's graveyard still remains and contains, among others, a tombstone with the date 1637 (now obliterated), which is said to be the oldest existing stone in Virginia. The present building was constructed in 1731. The Westover Church owns several pieces of fine silver including a paten, a chalice, and a cover made in London between 1694-1695, which was donated to the church by Sarah Braine, and a paten and chalice made in London between 1731-1732, which was possibly crafted by George Jones.

The Westover Church was abandoned for nearly thirty years after the year 1805 as a result of the Disestablishment, during which time the building often served as a barn. It is also said the church was utilized as a stable by Federal Troops during the United States Civil War. Beginning in 1867, the church underwent numerous restoration projects including the majority of the interior. The latest restoration was undertaken by Orin M. Bullock, Jr., of Baltimore. Bullock oversaw the replacement of the roof, the cornice, and the segmentally arched ceiling. In 1956, the west brick doorway and gallery window were restored.

Presidents William Henry Harrison, Benjamin Harrison, and John Tyler, as well as the families of such well-known nearby plantations such as Westover, Shirley, and Belle Air have all once held worship within the Westover Church.

Westover Church, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed December 10th 2020. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm#table.

History, Westover Episcopal Church. Accessed January 21st 2021. https://westoverepiscopalchurch.org/history/.