Downtown Charlottesville - Inside the Walls of Worship Tour

500 Park Street,Charlottesville VA 22902

29 April, 2023

Description

Did you know that the Beth Israel Synagogue is the oldest Jewish house of worship in continuous operation in Virginia; or that Christ Episcopal Church contains Tiffany stained-glass windows; or do you know why Thomas Jefferson referred to the Albemarle County Courthouse as “the people’s common temple?” Join us for a tour of these three historic downtown institutions with experts who will share the unique local history that has occurred within these walls of worship. In 1802, President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association assuring them that their religious liberty was protected thanks to the “wall of separation between Church & State” contained in the 1st Amendment to the Constitution. On the other hand, Jefferson referred to the Albemarle County Courthouse as “the people’s common temple,” a government building where any denomination could find sanctuary within its walls, and he was a lifelong supporter of Charlottesville’s oldest congregation, Christ Episcopal Church. There is a long and tense relationship between religion and civil society in America, but the fact remains that religious influences are embedded in all aspects of history and community experience. If you want to understand the soul of a community, look inside the walls of its houses of worship. Tour Locations and Your Guides: Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue – 301 East Jefferson Street – Originally constructed on the corner of Market and Church (now Second) Streets in 1882, rebuilt in its current location by 1904, the Gothic revival synagogue has been located in downtown Charlottesville and has served the Jewish community for over 140 years. With Phyllis K Leffler - Professor Emerita (UVA) and author and co-author of numerous publications, including: To Seek the Peace of the City: Jewish Life in Charlottesville and From Civil War to Civil Rights: The Jewish experience in Charlottesville. Christ Episcopal Church – 120 West High Street – Founded in 1820, construction of the original church was completed in 1826. The current building was constructed in 1898, with additions over the years, including the only Carillion in the state of Virginia housed in a church. With Michael Dickens - retired pediatrician & Christ Church Vestry, and author of Like an Evening Gone: A History of Christ Episcopal Church, Charlottesville, Virginia Upon the Occasion of Its 200th Anniversary. Albemarle County Courthouse – 501 East Jefferson Street - First established in 1762, on land donated by Dr. Thomas Walker. Serving as the courthouse and sole place to vote in Albemarle County, religious services for Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist worshippers were held in this space. With Richard Guy Wilson - Professor Emerita (UVA), author and editor of numerous publications, including: Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont and The Making of Virginia Architecture. Support for this tour provided by our generous sponsors: