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Historic American Buildings Survey HABS No. VA-125 St. Luke’s Chapel Location: Intersection of Va. Rt. 53 and 732, Simeon, Albemarle County, Virginia. Present Owner: Trustees of St. Luke’s Chapel Present Use: Episcopal Church Significance: St. Luke’s Chapel was built in 1892 as a mission of Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville. An example of the Carpenter Gothic Style of the late nineteenth century, the chapel retains many distinctive features, including the large pointed arch above its entrance and its original interior millwork and stained glass windows. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION History of St. Luke’s Chapel: St. Luke’s Chapel is one of siz missions which were established during the late nineteenth century in Charlottesville and the surrounding rural areas of Albemarle County. The chapel and been known by several names. The building was first called the Colle Mission Chapel, in reference to the large estate named Colle located to the east of the chapel. The first reference to the building as St. Luke’s Chapel is found in the Vestry Minutes of Christ Church in 1894, tow years following the chapel’s construction. These two names appear to have been used interchangeably throughout much of the building’s life. The effort to erect a chapel in the vicinity of Colle began in 1994 when several parishioners of Christ Church donated funds for this purpose. The matter was not brought before the Vestry, however, until July 8, 1890. At that time it was resolved that “the proposition made in reference to erecting a Chapel at Sneed’s Store be acceded to by the Vestry; that this missionary Chapel be considered under the care and protection of this Vestry, and that they shall be made Trustees of the same.” By 1892, “an account of the Chapel under erection at Colle, it’s condition and prospects” was given to the Christ Church Vestry. Since the new chapel was a mission of Christ Church, it had no full-time clergy and was the responsibility of the rector of Christ Church. The Vestry Records of Christ Church reveal that supplying St. Luke’s and the other missions with a minister was a perpetual and often distressing problem for the rector and the Vestry. In 1894 Christ Church appropriated $300.0 to pay a minister “to do Church missionary work in connection with this parish and Buck Mountain.” St. Luke’s contributed $50.00 to this amount as did the church at Buck Mountain and the newly established Edge Hill Chapel. Two ministers, Andrew G. Grinnan and Hugh Martin each served the missions for one year terms under these conditions. In 1896, however, Christ Church was forced to withdraw it’s financial support of the missions due to the problems it was encountering in the construction of it’s new church building. The rector, Dr. Henry Bendinger Lee, served the missions himself until 1898 when the church could again afford to hire a minister for the missions. In 1912, the Missions Committee of the Christ Church Vestry recommended that funds be raised to build rectories for St. Luke’s and Edge Hill Chapel, in order to attract a more permanent minister. In 1913, the Trustees of St. Luke’s purchased a 4.6 acre parcel of land adjacent to the church lot on which to construct a rectory. The rectory was never built, however, and in 1953 the Trustees sold the land. St. Luke’s remains today a parochial mission of Christ Church. It is an active Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia and holds regular services each Sunday. Written Sources: “An Historical Sketch of Christ Church,” a pamphlet prepared by Christ Church. Edwards, Wenger, and Yetter. The Secretary’s Road in Virginia, Vol.3 VRT-3 School of Architecture/University of Virginia, 1977. Vestry Records, Christ Episcopal Church, 1859-1901, 1902-1915. Manuscript Collection, Alderman Library, University of Virginia. Interviews: Mrs. W.S. Bishop, organist and member of St. Luke’s. Mr. Charles Leavell, vicar of St. Luke’s Chapel. |
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Historic American Buildings Survey |