1766 Church in Owens, King George County, Virginia

This vintage photograph captures a historical church located in Owens, King George County, Virginia. Constructed in 1766, the building features a square cruciform shape with arms of equal length. Initially a place of worship, the church fell into disrepair by 1812 due to the effects of the War of 1812. Following its ruination, the county repurposed the structure in 1813 as an academy, modifying the interior to include upper and lower rooms, with the chancel relocated to the north wall.

The image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, which documents significant architectural sites in the region. The photograph was published in Henry Irving Brocks Colonial Churches in Virginia in 1930, highlighting its historical importance.

Frances Benjamin Johnston, an influential photographer, captured this image to preserve the architectural legacy of Virginias early colonial structures.

KNOWOLs historic images connect the rich stories and imagery of our past. A statement in any room, each is printed on museum-quality paper using a restored version of the original.