City: Williamsburg, VA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (757) 229-2891

Description: If not for Bruton Parish Church, there might be no restored Colonial Williamsburg, as it was this historic church’s rector, Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin, who persuaded John D. Rockefeller to commit his attention and his millions to bringing the forgotten capital back to life. Goodwin’s church, in use since 1715, is one of America’s oldest Episcopal churches with a rich history of its own. Its architectural features include the 1769 tower; high box pews dedicated to Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, and Tyler, all of whom worshipped here; and a bronze lectern donated by Theodore Roosevelt. Fully restored in 1940, the church also boasts original walls and windows and a stone baptismal font said to have come from an earlier Jamestown church. The churchyard holds hundreds of 18th-century graves. Church tours are offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon to Sat. No admission is charged for church tours, but donations are welcome. Bruton Parish holds services every Sunday, with noonday prayers on Monday. It also is a popular venue for choral concerts and small chamber ensembles. The Bruton Parish Book & Gift Shop (757) 220-1489, also is on Duke of Gloucester Street. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon through Sat and 1 to 5 p.m. Sun, it stocks not only religious books but also jewelry, stuffed animals, and other gifts.