St. George’s History comprises individual articles, documents and collections around the 300 year history of St. George’s Episcopal Church, located in Fredericksburg Virginia. This site is unrelated to St. George's main website.
Supplementing them are a category-based search, a content index and a timeline. We have two tour documents - a building summary and a 15 minute walking tour you can take in the church.
If this is your first visit, check out the 2 tours - building summary and a 15 minute walking tour.
Recent articles
Piecing together postal history in Fredericksburg
Provisional stamp offers example of wartime adaptability – ADELE UPHAUS The Free Lance–Star – Aug 27., 2023 TOP: The best known example of Fredericksburg's 1861 5-cent provisional stamp, issued by postmaster Reuben Thom, on a letter, from the collection of Keith Littlefield. KEITH LITTLEFIELD PHOTOS It was the summer of 1861 and Fredericksburg's longtime postmaster, … Read more
Community Comes Together 1968
A quiet three-block march and a packed memorial service at St. George’s Episcopal Church were held in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. on April 7, 1968—three days after the civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. The sidewalk processional began with about 350 people outside Mount Zion Baptist Church and swelled to an estimated 500.
Rev. William Meade Clark, 18th Rector at St. George’s: Dec. 1890 – Aug. 31, 1896
By Trip Wiggins
Born: 5 May 1855/Halifax Co., VA son of Rev John T Clark/Mary Wilson
Marr. First Laura M Walker 8 June 1881 in Fairfax Co., VA (she died 1883)
Following her death he married again to Mary Alice Peirce on 7 Dec 1899 in Lancaster Co., VA
Died 29 Apr 1914/Richmond, VA
Buried with his wife in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
18th St. George’s Rector
Rev. Robert James McBryde, 16th and 20th rectors at St. George’s (1877-1883) and (1905-1912)
By Trip Wiggins
Born 1 Jun 1845/Abbeville, SC
Died 6 Sep 1916/Raphine, Rockbridge Co., VA
16th and 20th Rector of St. George’s
St. George’s: July 1877 – April 1883 & Nov 1905 – Oct 1912
Rev. John Kercheval Mason, 17th Rector at St. George’s 1883-1890
By Trip Wiggins
Born: 3 Dec 1847/”Westview” in Brunswick Co., VA
Married: 19 Nov 1879/Alexandria, VA to Claudia Hamilton Norton (5 kids)
Died: 18 Dec 1910/Louisville, KY; Burial: Alexandria, VA/St. Paul’s Church
17th St. George’s Rector
At St. George’s May 15, 1883 – Dec. 1, 1890
Rev. Edward C. McGuire, Twelfth St. George’s Rector At St George’s: Oct, 1813 to Oct, 1858 (his death
By Trip Wiggins
Rev. Edward C. McGuire
Born: 26 Jul 1793/Winchester/ Died: 8 Oct 1858/Fredericksburg, VA
Burial: St. George’s Churchyard
Twelfth St. George’s Rector
At St George’s: Oct, 1813 to Oct, 1858 (his death)
Married Judith Carter Lewis b. 4 Oct 1816/Fredericksburg, VA/d. 26 Mar 1882/VA (she was in his first confirmation class) married on 17 Apr 1816/Fredericksburg
Rev. Alfred Magill Randolph 13th St. George’s Rector At St George’s: Oct. 1858 – Nov. 1862
By Trip Wiggins
b. 31 Aug 1836/The Meadows (Eastern View), Fauquier Co., VA
d. 6 Apr 1918/Norfolk, VA (lived there for 25 years – seat for the Southern Va Diocese)
13th St. George’s Rector
At St George’s: Oct. 1858 – Nov. 1862
Assistant Rector summer 1858
“acting” Rector Oct 1858 until ordained priest in 1860
Rev. George Strebeck Born abt. 1772/Baltimore, MD – Died abt. 1832/Perquimans Co., NC
By Trip Wiggins
Rev. George Strebeck
Born abt. 1772/Baltimore, MD – Died abt. 1832/Perquimans Co., NC
m. 24 Oct 1793/NYC to Jerusha Mott of NYC (abt 1772/NYC – abt 1811/NYC)
They had at least 6 children (1810 census).
m. 20 Oct 1812/Fredericksburg, VA to Sydney Susannah Graham of Fredericksburg, VA by. Rev. Woodville
At St. George’s Nov. 19, 1811 – abt. Feb. 1813
Rev. James Marye, Sr. 7 June 1692/Parish of Bertreville, Saint Ouen, France – abt. Jan 1768/Spotsylvania County, Va.
By Trip Wiggins
Rev. James Marye, Sr.
7 June 1692/Parish of Bertreville, Saint Ouen, France – abt. Jan 1768/Spotsylvania County, Va.
Fourth St. George’s Rector
At St George’s: Oct. 1735 – abt. Jan 1768*
1. Carrol Quenzel's History of St. George's
Quenzel's 1951 history is still the standard for the church. He was a librarian for Mary Washington College as well as being active at St. George's, helping to create the St. Georgian newsletter as well as a part of the Vestry. We have the entire book online which was published by St. George's
2. The Three Churches of St. George's - Barbara Willis
Barbara Willis was a local historian and writer and long time St. Georgian with her husband Mac. This paper is a detailed summary of the evolution of St. George's church from its wooden colonial church to the impressive 1849 brick building we have today.
The Civil War may be the most popular historic topic in all of our history. The church served in 3 capacities - as a fortress, center of revival and as a hospital. We have a 9 part series on our role and relationship to Fredericksburg.
McGuire served all 3 churches over the course of 45 years. He is probably the most influential of all our rectors in all phases of ministry from preaching, teaching, and outreach. Trip Wiggins, our archivist, wrote this for a Sunday school class and has been teaching classes for years
5. Charles Syndor on Social Policy
Charles Sydnor served St. George's from 1972-2003 and was responsible for furthering Thomas Faulkner's outreach ministries and creating new ones. This paper he wrote in 2009 was for an adult forum in that year.
6. Tom Faulkner confronts the Vestry on race
Faulkner served St. George's for 30 years from 1946-1976. During these years racial policies were paramount, especially 1954, in the year of Brown vs. Board of Education, Faulkner was challenged by the Vestry on the role of Blacks in our service. He was able to move St. George's toward racial justice that other rectors would further
