Historic Jamestown Church Tower - Jamestown, Virginia
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 37° 12.504 W 076° 46.720
18S E 342167 N 4119473
This church tower is the only remaining portion of the fifth Jamestown Church built in 1686. It was abandoned in the 1750's and was in ruins by the 1790's. The current memorial church was built atop the foundations of the 1617 and 1639 churches.
Waymark Code: WM41Q3
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 06/24/2008
Views: 127
This church tower is the only remaining portion of the fifth Jamestown Church built in 1686. It was abandoned in the 1750's and was in ruins by the 1790's. The current memorial church was built atop the foundations of the 1617 and 1639 churches.
The first (and second) Jamestown church was built of wood inside James Fort in 1607. It burned in 1608 and was replaced with a similar structure.
In 1617 it was decided that a brick church should be built and the town built a 50 by 20 foot church on the location where the current (6th) church stands today. The foundation of this structure can be seen beneath glass from the interior of the current church.
In 1639 a larger church was built around the 3rd church. It was another brick church and was incomplete until 1647. This structure was burned down in 1676 during Bacon's Rebellion.
In 1686 a new church was built, using the walls and foundation of the older, charred church. It was used through the 1750's and by the 1790's was in ruins. The church tower is the only 17th century structure still remaining in Jamestown. The current graveyard wall was built using bricks from the remains of the rest of the church.
The tower became a symbol to early American heritage and in the 1890's a preservation group bought the tower and strengthened it, preserving the tower and the churches' foundation. In 1907 the small memorial chapel was built by Society of Colonial Dames of America atop the foundations of the 4th and 5th churches. This is the church building that visitors see today.
Type: Remnant
Fee: $10
Hours:
Entrance Gate, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. daily
Glasshouse, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. daily
Visitor Center, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. daily
Related URL: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
Original photographs showing additional views of the Ruin/Remnant or even just its current condition are encouraged. Please describe your visit, especially if no additional photos are available. Did you like the Ruin or Remnant? What prompted you to see the Ruin or Remnant?