Twelve large compass-head windows adorn the exterior of the Christ Church. There are two on each side of the nave, one on each side of the north and south transepts, and four in the chancel arm. They stand 12 ˝ feet tall and are four feet wide.
Atop each window is an arch of fine gauged and rubbed brick with a classically molded keystone and stone imposts. At the bottom of each opening is a molded stone sill. Rubbed bricks on the jambs help define the window openings and are similar to the rubbed bricks on the corners of the church. All brick elements are flush with the wall, while the keystones, imposts, and sills project out from the wall plane.
The sash is original and made of black walnut, which is painted white on the exterior but left unpainted inside. The two-inch wide muntins are some of the widest remaining from colonial Virginia. The upper sash is compass-headed to fit the window opening. It is fixed in place. The bottom sash is hung with weights on each side to raise and lower the window as needed. The upper sash is divided into six panes (or “lights”) in the compass-head and sixteen panes below the springline; the bottom sash has sixteen panes as well. Few, if any, of the original glass panes survive.
The windows have been repaired on a number of occasions. In 1897 the vestry reglazed all the panes and installed protective wire screens around them. In 1967-68, local finish carpenter Warnie Pritchett removed the sash and repaired deteriorated portions before reinstalling them with new chain in place of the original sash cord used to hang them to the weights. In 2001-2002, the windows were taken out again and the sash treated by conservators from Tidewater Preservation. A stone sill on the west window, south side transept was replaced in the 1960s. |
 The twelve compass-head windows in Christ Church have beautiful gauged and rubbed brickwork and a classical keystone in the arches. This design is very similar to that used in the compass-head stair windows at Rosewell, built ca. 1726-1738, which was the home of Robert Carter's daughter, Judith Carter Page. |
