Bruton Parish Episcopal Church — Attraction in Williamsburg

Racism is alive and well folks. We were greeted and spoken to, while another family of color was not. Upon walking in the door, a second later they were told the chapel was closing in 10 minutes. We arrived literally within seconds and the senior chaperones shared we could have a seat. As he continued to share that, "the church was elitist with only white individuals being seated", I watched both of the senior elderly gentlemen's discomfort with the black family. It was as if they felt the need to emphasize the comment about the church being "white only". They did not engage with them nor make eye contact, and appeared uncomfortable. The other family was not offered the opportunity to "sit down and rest", as we were. They immediately left. Appalled and embarrassed over what I saw. Please have a talk with those bigots or at minimum have them take a cultural sensitivity course. Also, on their way out, one individual, grey haired gentleman, lectured the family about not appreciating history!!! Really, was it his place to do so? Ultimately, the situation was very uncomfortable and those comments were not even directed at us, so I cannot imagine how that family felt...Lastly, if the intention is to "preserve" and promote history, please...

When we first arrived in Williamsburg, we visited the George Wythe house, which was one of the places on our list to stop at. We saw the cemetery while waiting for our tour (and had to walk across the street to get our tickets and passes), but it was closed that early.

NOTE: Check the website for the church for the times that they are open for tours (we did not know that at the time).

After we left the Wythe house, we walked over to the cemetery and looked around, not realizing that there were tours at the church.

Before we left Williamsburg, we did a little bit more research on the church and cemetery and decided we would try to go back and see if it was open. It was, and we went inside to tour the church.

The gentleman inside, who was providing historical information about the church, could not have been more personable or nicer. They provided us some intriguing information and allowed us to take some video and pictures.

If you take nothing else from this review, just check the times on the church's website if you would like to go inside and take the tour. As an active church, they schedule their tours around...

A true survivor of the colonial era, Bruton Parish Church is an icon of the core of old Williamsburg, the part of town now known as Colonial Williamsburg. It's been in continuous use since the parish located to the current site on Duke of Gloucester St. in the early 1700's.

Numerous political figures of the pre-revolutionary period attended here, as Williamsburg at the time was capital of Virginia, the original of the British colonies, the flagship, if you will. And Bruton, being the flagship church of the capital, served as a very active place of worship for the local gentry as well as for visiting dignitaries.

The church is open to the public for viewing most days when not in use for church functions. Since it is an independent entity (not owned or operated by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation), there is no admission charge, but donations of any size are welcomed as you enter. Docents are present to assist with questions.

A must-see site in the heart of Colonial...