Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-17
ST. LUKE'S IS OLDEST
PROTESTANT CHURCH
Distinction Is Claimed by Isle
of Wight County,
Virginia.
IN USE SINCE ERECTION ~ IGa.
FMS "Pnfm' on Historic jamestown
Island EdiHcc. Which wns Com
Plctcd in IU4O-OIdcr Structure In
Almost Constant Rrpair.
ny Ed,,nrd 81. John.

Isle Of Wight County. Virginia
claims tho distinction ~ having the
oldest church. OF Protestant Faith in
America. This church has been in
constant use since ne day Of it's
erection in 1852. y long md worn
nu, debate has been going on as 10
whether st. I.uk"'s or the crumhling
tower ~ Jamestown was the oldest
church in Virginia. 81 Lukc's has
The date. 1922. made in ono or more
O; its bricks in tn" walls and other
evidence {" support lis claim OF be-
ing tn" Oldest;
Governor Sir John Harvey. in his
CORES pondcncc with Colonia! officials
IN England In 1855. says "Ou; of oar
own" purses wee have largely con-
trieutcd |" the huildinr OF brick
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS referring to the
church At jamestown Island. which
was. 1t is believed. completed In 1870
Therefore. II looks 20 he that 81,
Luke's has the prior cinim And
Will" Jamestown Church has long
az" crumhled away. leaving nothing
but part OF the tower. 81. Lukes
has been in almost constant repair
ana use sine" the day OF erection.
st. luke's seems 20 have been one
"f a s"rics Of churches ten or twelve
miles apart from the lower part ~
Norfolk beginning with "Old Doua-
;iur.' in Princess Ammo County. to
and beyond the AppomattoN River
Earl. settlers Religious.
That many OF the earliest settlers
wer" religious and imbucd with the
missionary spirit. there Is little
doubt for the Instructions ot tho
London Company that Captain John
smith brought with him contained
lHrc" provisions for the maintenance
Of religion among tho settlers and
for ;ha conversion u: the savages
Tho Episcopal Church commenced in
America with the settlement at
jamestown. and, although it had
many difficulties with which TO con-
'cnd. SIN survives throughout the
state. These settlers built churches
wherever they settled. and many %!
them stand today. monument to
their piety and forethourht.
Among the wclI-prcserved churches
still standing. st. Lukc's stands pre-
eminent. Ruilt ~ brick. made Of the
very best quality of clay. found in
I, its Immediate vicinity and put to-
gcthcr with mortar made from welt
burnt cystcr-sh"ll lime and building
sand. both of which can lie found
nearby in great quantities. the mortar
becoming almost AS hard as Mint pre-
venting the displacement Of lrick
without tearing away a part OF those
t" which II is attached. has assisted
greatly in It's preservation.
st. Lukc's is essentially n seven
i"cnth century church and. although
built with view To architecture!
grace, was built as a place OF refuge
In cas-" Of an Indian attack. It's site
- Just wh"r" wisdom and common
sens" would have placed 1t: five miles
from the river settlement: five miles
from q church in Nanscmoud: FIVE
mules from two wide and deep
streams. which would have cut il OF
from church in the Upper Parish
on the main road leading from Tho
settlement on I.awnc's Creek to the
settlement in Upper Norfolk !, may