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
From Repentance to Hope – The Sculpture
(Editor’s note – St. George’s commissioned the sculpture work called “Jubilation” by Ayokunle Odeleye for the service “Repentance to Hope”. The idea was provided to the Rev. Jim Dannals by long time art teacher Johnny Johnson. Background – Mr. Odeleye received a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from Howard University in 1973 and a Masters … Read more
From Repentance to Hope – Feb. 16, 2013
This service was planned by the Diocese Committee on Race and Reconcilition and hosted by St. George’s. Here is the bulletin. This was a Saturday 10am service with the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and the Bishop of Virginia Shannon Johnston to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. “From Reconciliation to Hope: A … Read more
1815 Pewholders – Second Church
Below is a rare find with the list of the parishioners with pews at the beginning of the second church. We learn there was one gallery on the south side (George St. side but no other galleries mentioned). There appear to have been 59 pews. All were bought except for 15,16,17,43 which were rented for … Read more
McGuire’s List of “Men and Women in this Town and Neighbourhood”, November, 1843
This list was transcribed in 1964 by Mrs. James F. King from Manassas, Va based on a manuscript she owned by Rev. Edward McGuire “Men and Women in this Town and Neighbourhood.” We would infer these are parishioners but it doesn’t say this. The Central Rappahannock Regional Library has this based on Barbara Willis’ correspondence … Read more
Renewal service, Oct 11, 1981 after the renovation
Here is the bulletin from the service: [pdf-embedder url=”http://history.churchsp.org/wp-content/uploads/rededicationstgeorges1981.pdf”]
Church Renovation – 1980 – Vestry modifies the plan
1 Selections from Vestry meeting, Oct. 8, 1980 2 The Changes 3 Bill Poole’s letter, Oct. 28, 1980
Church Renovation – Phase 2 Plan- May 8, 1980
This is a Preservation Program addressed to the Vestry, May 8, 1980 which would lead to the renovation of 1981
St. George’s “Time for Repairs”, June 21, 1977
Many of us remember the renovation 2007-2011 and the earlier one in the 1990’s, AIM 2000. A decade earlier in 1980 the Vestry took up the subject of renovation though the letter in the report indicates Milton Grigg’s architectural firm in Charlottesville signed a contract in 1977. Grigg (1905-1982) was known for his work in … Read more
Contractors for the 1854 fire – Historical Fredericksburg Foundation
Rev. McGuire wrote at the 60th Virginia Convention in 1855. Our church was partially consumed by fire in July last. It has been repaired with renovated beauty and convenience. Spacious side galleries has been erected, furnishing, with the ground floor, sitting for about 800 persons. In this time souls have been added to the Church, … Read more
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
