Powhatan in Powhatan County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 12, 2024
1. Emmanuel Episcopal Church Marker
Church
has been registered as a
Virginia
Historic
Landmark
pursuant to the authority vested in the
Virginia Board of Historic Resources
Erected by Virginia Board of Historic Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.
Location. 37° 33.081′ N, 77° 56.562′ W. Marker is in Powhatan, Virginia, in Powhatan County. It is on Emanuel Church Road (Virginia Route 1002) north of Old Buckingham Road ( Highway 13), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2930 Emanuel Church Rd, Powhatan VA 23139, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Central Virginia, and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Giles's Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pocahontas High School (approx. half a mile away); The Powhatan Troop (approx. 1½ miles away); Memorial to Powhatan Servicemen (approx. 1½ miles away); Powhatan Courthouse (approx. 1½ miles away); Powhatan Court House (approx. 1½ miles away); The Courthouse Tavern / Atkinson's Hotel / The Village (approx. 1½ miles away); The Court House (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Powhatan.
this page online
More about this marker. The building currently houses New Walk Bible Church.
Regarding Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Excerpts from the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Nomination Form:
Emmanuel Episcopal Church is significant both historically and architecturally as part of the 1830s revival in the Episcopal Church in Virginia, Emmanuel Church has historic significance. After the disestablishment of the Anglican Church in the late eighteenth century, there was a lack of enthusiasm from the lay people toward the church as well as a lack of funds since the church was no longer allowed to collect revenue through taxation as had been the law during the colonial rule. It was not until the 1830s in Virginia that a renewed interest in religion started and consequently new church construction. The 1830s also saw an increase in the membership of other religious denominations since the Anglican Church was no longer the established church. Although Emmanuel is an Episcopal Church, typical of this time period, it was used by many other denominations as well.
Emmanuel Church is very significant for architectural reasons. In the mid-nineteenth century,pattern books became widely popular in America. Virginia architecture began to take on characteristics related to what was going on not only in America, but also in the rest of the world. The Gothic Revival style was popular at this time in America and Europe as well. Pattern books facilitated the transfer of this style in a fairly unadulterated manner. Although the plans for Emmanuel Church have not been found, we know it could have been built from a pattern book and was a paradigm for others. St. John's in Columbia is an exact replica of Emmanuel and there are at least two others in Virginia which are very similar (St. Thomas's in Fredrick County and St. John's in Amelia County).Photographed by Mark Parker, December 12, 20242. Former Emmanuel Episcopal Church, now New Walk Bible Church. Marker right of sanctuary entrance
Also see . . . Emmanuel Episcopal Church Nomination Form (pdf). Form prepared by Jane Covington, Eckstrom + Associates, 1989 (Submitted on February 3, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 12, 2024
3. Emmanuel Episcopal Church steeple
Photographed by Mark Parker, December 12, 2024
4. Full view of the former Emmanuel Episcopal Church property, now New Walk Bible Church
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 210 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 3, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
