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Education & Events

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Main Photo: Monumental Church. Taken from the archives of Historic Richmond Foundation

2012 Winter Lecture Series: The Year of Monumental Church

Robert Mills' Influence On The Architecture Of The Early Republic

Robert Winthrop graduated in 1970 with an architectural degree from University of Virginia. On January 17th, Bob will be speaking on the important role that Robert Mills played in the creation of the architecture of the early republic. Robert Mills, America’s first native born architect, designed Monumental Church in 1812. Mills was the only architectural student of Thomas Jefferson. The Mills’ design adaptively used a Delorme dome. The structure is a memorial to the 72 individuals that died in the Richmond Theater fire of 1811. Robert Winthrop provided the initial studies on the restoration of Monumental Church. He has authored several important books on the architecture of Richmond. He now lives in Farmville where he specializes in historically sensitive renovations and additions to churches.

The Unknown Stories of Monumental Church’s First Years

Intended as a peaceful location where all could gather to remember those lost in an 1811 theater fire, Monumental Church was nonetheless troubled by controversies in its early years. Meredith Henne Baker, author of The Richmond Theater Fire: Early America’s First Great Disaster, addresses disputes that arose over Monumental Church’s first minister (an evangelical New Yorker), the church’s unusual design, urn errors, and which denomination should claim the church for its own. Learn about the establishment of this historic church through the engaging personalities who built it, argued over it, and worshipped inside.

www.theaterfirebook.com

Robert Mills’ Design for Monumental Church

Our final lecture on March 15, presents Dr. Charles Brownell of VCU’s art history department who will reconstruct the sources from which Robert Mills drew in designing Monumental Church. Dr. Brownell has alluded that he will reveal to the audience a big surprise from his research . Dr. Brownell has shaped the graduate programs in architectural history and historic preservation at VCU where he has taught since 1992.