Historic St. Luke's Church

A friend just told us about this historic church dating back to 1632. We are eager to go out and see it soon.

"Amid stately oaks south of the James River in Virginia stands a handsome brick Gothic church which has stood vigil over the community of Isle of Wight County through almost 400 years of conflict, peace, despair and prosperity. Traditionally, Historic St. Luke’s Church, formerly called the Old Brick Church, was founded in 1632 as a beacon, a fortress, a mission, and a gathering place for colonists facing unbearable hardship in the early days of the colonies.

Venerable Historic St. Luke's, Mother Church of Warrasquoyacke Parish (later called Isle of Wight) was affectionately known as "Old Brick Church" long before it was given its present name in 1820. It is the oldest existing church of English foundation in America and the nation's only surviving Gothic building. It forms a unique bridge between the early civilization of our country and the rich culture of Medieval England. Its structure reflects the architectural and spiritual descendents of the great Gothic cathedrals of England. By tradition and recollection of the first Vestry Book, "Old Brick Church" is dated to 1632. It closely relates to the Tower Church at Jamestown, dated circa 1638/39. As was common at the time, it took four or five years to erect such a church; and the finishing of the interior fittings required an additional number of years, even in this parish, already numbering 522 persons in the year 1634. In 1640, John Day (direct ancestor of Henry Mason Day, the first President of the foundation) came from England with his own fine household furniture and personal servants.

Colonel Joseph Bridger of "White Marsh" long associated with "Old Brick Church", a man of significant wealth, and a member of the Council of State to Charles II for Virginia, is known to have settled in the parish at least as early as 1657. According to tradition, Colonel Bridger brought members of the Driver family from England to do "finish" work on the church. Colonel Bridger was given increasing acknowledgement for the important contributions he made in bringing the church to completion. His remains, relocated to the church in the 1890's, are in the church's chancel marked by a basalt ledger stone. By the Order of Assembly issued in March 1623, this parish was one of only four locations, other than Jamestown, where the General Court of the Colony was permitted to convene. Since the Court convened in the church, there was urgency to make it suitably reflect this important function. The "Lord Governour and Captaine Generall" would be present and during their stay attend church service. The high box-pews were designated for their use. Those who first assembled in "Old Brick Church" knew much of Captain John Smith, Pocahontas, John Rolfe and Powhatan, who were still regarded as contemporary figures, and the tragic Indian Massacre of 1622, which wiped out nearly a third of the Virginia settlers. Nathaniel Bacon, the scourge of Governor Berkeley, passed not far from "Old Brick Church" on his way to burn Jamestown in 1676. In the stirring days before the Revolution, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Patrick Henry, and many other of our great patriots must have knelt here before the altar and asked for guidance on their passage to or from Williamsburg, as they slowly shaped the destiny of a nation" http://www.historicstlukes.org/history.html

Gettysburg, July 1-3 1863

At my dad's Military school in Washington D.C. they had a family trip to Gettysburg.
My dad and I and a whole bus full of students and family took the trip.
We had two teachers from the school giving the tour. These teachers had their doctorates in Gettysburg history so the facts they presented to us were well studied.


Colonel Chamberlain and the 20th Maine on Little Round Top.

The Confederate leaders at Gettysburg. Men who are sitting: Left- Picket, Middle- Lee,
Standing Right side two over- Longstreet, Standing middle left- Armistead friends with General Handcock. Red uniform- British Embassador to the Confederates. ohe British were thinking of coming in on their side because of the economic benefits of the agricultural south.

On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg a small group of Union Cavalry held the ground
outside Gettysburg near the Luthern Seminary against the Confederates. The dismounted cavalary held until the Union brought up the supporting infantry.

Durning the battle of Gettysburg their were war dogs similar to the ones on Guam in World War II. The one story the teachers told were of a small dog that was a mascot of a battalion of Union soldiers. The little dog would march along with the soldiers. When she was killed in battle the soldiers stopped their attack and buried her before continuing the attack.


Being at Gettysburg was a sacred experience knowing how many had died there.
The hill I am pointing at is Little Round Top. This hill was the site of the historic hold by the 20th Maine against overwhelming Confederates. When the 20th Maine was low on ammunion they fixed bayonets and with the down hill chasing the Confederates off. The 20th Main's Commander Colonel Chamberlain earned the Medal of Honor for orchestrating the hold and the charge on Little Round Top.


Here is the place where the 20th Maine held their ground against overwhelming odds.



This red farm house was a Hospital for wounded soldiers in the movie "Gettysburg". The country side is beautiful. It is hard to imagine all the blood and gore that occered on such beautiful ground.

On one side of the field of Picket's Charge is a statue of General Robert E. Lee. There is a Union general facing him on the Union side of the field, almost a mile away.

The field of Picket's Charge


The place where the Union soldiers held the Confederates attack back.


The place where the Confederate charge stopped.

On the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg the Confederates under command of Roberet E. Lee made a daring charge across an open field, a mile long. The confederates had Colonel Alexander's artillary, but the foot solders who had to march across the field were still desimated because they were fully exposed to the Union guns. General Picket never forgave Lee for ordering the charge that killed almost all his men.

On the Union side, General Hancock and his men under the barrage of the Alexander's artillary quickly set up defenses against the inevitable infantry attack. Their defences worked and they succeded in holding their line just as the Confederates had at Fredersburg. So desimated was the Confederates that General Mead, General Handcock's superior refused to chase the Confederates after they retreated because it would have been a slaughter. General Mead received chastisement from President Lincoln for letting the Confederates go. General Mead gave the honorable order by not completely slaughtering the helpless Confederates.

Later, General/President Eisenhower bought a piece of property here in Gettysburg. He wanted to have a Gettysburg address like the Lincoln, Gettysburg Address.

We didn't forget about you!

This is just a friendly reminder that the G family has not forgotten about you all, our dear faithful blog readers... As you all know, this year the whole family is in school. Dad studying at ICAF, Mum at ODU Woman's Health Nurse Practitioner course, and David and I at TCC. We are all flooded with term papers, finals, and presentations! Just trying to keep our heads above water.

We promise to provide full updates on our trip to Washington DC, Gettysburg, Deaf Spaghetti Dinner, and Thanksgiving, as soon as the finals are over!


Above: Picture of the G family and Chaplain Dowds during our stay in Washington DC last month. :)

God bless you all! We hope your Thanksgiving was a wonderful one!