Saluda, VA Church History: 1712-1714 Architectural Landmark

This vintage photograph captures a significant architectural landmark in Saluda, Middlesex County, Virginia, associated with the history of the regions churches. The building depicted was constructed between 1712 and 1714, succeeding an earlier church built on the same site in 1666. This rectangular brick structure features distinctive fanlights and reflects the colonial architectural style of its era.

Abandoned for 25 years after 1813, the church fell into disrepair, becoming a roofless ruin. It was not until 1840 that restoration efforts revived its use, allowing it to continue serving the local parish that traces its roots back to 1666. The image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, which documents significant architectural works across the region.

Published in Henry Irving Brocks Colonial Churches in Virginia in 1930, this photograph serves as a valuable reference for understanding early American ecclesiastical architecture. It highlights the enduring legacy of religious structures in Virginias historical landscape.