Holy Things and Profane: Anglican Parish Churches in Colonial Virginia

Holy Things and Profane examines Anglican parish churches in colonial Virginia from 1680 to 1770. Through architectural analysis and historical records, Dell Upton reconstructs how these churches shaped religious and social life in colonial communities. The book documents the physical characteristics of Virginia's colonial churches, from their construction methods to their interior layouts and decorative elements. Upton draws connections between church architecture and the broader cultural landscape of colonial Virginia, including class hierarchies and social relationships. The research integrates architectural evidence with parish records, vestry books, and personal accounts to create a complete picture of religious spaces in colonial life. The text includes detailed illustrations, floor plans, and photographs that support the architectural and historical analysis. This work reveals how sacred spaces both reflected and reinforced social order in colonial America. The intersection of religious practice and social structure emerges as a central theme that illuminates broader patterns in colonial Virginia society.

Readers value this book's detailed research on Virginia's colonial Anglican churches and how their architecture reflected social hierarchies and religious practices. Multiple reviewers note Upton's thorough analysis of church location, orientation, interior layouts, and seating arrangements. Positive comments focus on: - Clear explanation of how church design reinforced social order - Extensive use of primary sources and parish records - High-quality architectural drawings and photographs Main criticisms: - Dense academic writing style makes it challenging for casual readers - Limited focus on only Anglican churches - High price point for a specialized topic Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 5/5 (2 ratings) Google Books: No ratings available One historian noted: "Upton connects physical spaces to social relationships in colonial Virginia better than any previous work." A preservation specialist wrote: "The architectural drawings alone make this an invaluable resource."

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🏛️ Anglican churches in colonial Virginia were deliberately positioned on hilltops and high ground, making them visible landmarks that dominated the landscape and symbolized the Church's authority. 🎨 The book won the Alice Davis Hitchcock Book Award from the Society of Architectural Historians in 1987, recognizing it as an outstanding work in architectural history. ⚜️ Dell Upton's research revealed that Virginia's colonial churches followed a distinct architectural pattern that differed from their English counterparts, developing a unique "Virginia Georgian" style. 👥 The book demonstrates how church seating arrangements reflected social hierarchy, with wealthy planters occupying the best pews near the pulpit and poor whites and enslaved people relegated to the gallery or back of the church. 🏗️ Many of Virginia's colonial-era Anglican churches were built using a standardized plan that included a rectangular nave, compass-headed windows, and rubbed brick decoration—features that became hallmarks of Virginia ecclesiastical architecture.