Here's The Oldest Building In Virginia...And Its History Is Bone Chilling
By Beth|Published December 27, 2016
×
Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
Constructed in 1639, the Jamestown Church is one of the oldest standing buildings in any of the 13 original colonies. Its history is impressive — it was the site where the first Legislative Assembly met and was also the church where Pocahontas married John Rolfe. These walls have seen their fair share of Virginia history, and it stands to reason that some of that history was incredibly trying. Here’s a brief summary of the church that evolved and continues to stand, against all odds.
What stands today at the site of the original Jamestown Church was actually constructed in 1906. The tower and foundation, however, were constructed back in 1639 and thus this building is noted as the oldest in Virginia.
Even the version built in 1639 was actually the fourth version to be built. The very first Jamestown Church was constructed inside a fort, made of wood and covered with rafts. This church is the one where the famous union of Pocahontas and John Rolfe occurred.
Despite the harmony that this union may have represented, it's impossible not to consider the conditions under which many were living. The winter of 1609-1610 was considered The Starving Time at Jamestown, when only 50 out of 600 colonists survived.
Accounts of this time suggest that it was one of the hardest in the state's history. In the midst of one of the worst droughts in history, growing food was nearly impossible. Accounts from an early colony leader George Percy state that it was a "world of misery," where "nothing was spared to maintain life."
And yet even in the face of immense structure, the church continued to grow stronger. In 1617, Governor John Harvey requested that the citizens of Jamestown contribute to the building, which would this time be constructed from cobblestone and wood. This version of the Jamestown Church saw the meeting of the First Assembly.
Twenty years later, conditions had improved, and it was decided that a larger church would be needed. This is the 1639 version that many consider to be the date of the present building’s beginnings. To it was added a brick church tower, which today is the only remaining above ground structure from the 1600s in Jamestown.
When you visit the Jamestown Church today, you’ll see the Memorial Church, completed in 1906, and built around the foundations of the earlier churches. In a fascinating way, the building is something of a time capsule, preserving the efforts of the earliest Virginians.
The ruins that remain from the earliest days of Jamestown witnessed some remarkable, and incredibly difficult times. Those that worshiped at this site were uncertain of their health, families, and the future of their new beloved colony. Over 350 years later, we can look back at this space with a newfound sense of reverence.
What are your thoughts on the fascinating history of this important Virginia site? Have you visited it recently? Feel free to share your experience with us!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
