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