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
A Walking Tour of St. George’s Episcopal Church
Take 15 minutes and get to know some of our history by walking the church. More information on each topic online
Decorative Paint at St. George’s
Symbolism is an important part of worship and increasing the symbols of worship were being lost in this crowded condition of the church. One byproduct of openness was to revive an excitement or the vibrancy of worship. By the 1950’s , St. George’s was a stark place. From 1925 to the 1950’s the color of … Read more
Thomas Moore specs for Decorative Paint in the Renovation 2008-2011
-General Design Scheme General: It was agreed not to reproduce the 1906 ornamental scheme. It was agreed that the use of lettering in the form of “Chi-Ro”, “H.I.S.”, “Alpha-Omega”, etc., be avoided. Crosses, where used as a component of ornament, will be in subtle context. Of the ornament presented, the ornamental styles preferred were those … Read more
Thomas Faulkner Memoirs 1972-1976
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Thomas Faulkner Memoirs 1950-1962
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The Pews
1. Pews, Part 1 2. Pews, Part 2 3. Pews, Part 3 4. Pews, Part 4 5. Pews, Part 5 6. Pews, Part 6
The Pews, Part 6
In this final installment of this series we will look at a couple of “pew controversies” and the memorials that are attached to a number of the pews. All was not harmonious in the pews. Pews were objects to be bought and were taxed. It was inevitable that controversies arose. In early January, 1908, Brodie … Read more
The Pews, Part 5
Another 14 families of St. George’s occupied the pews for 3 of the 4 periods. 10 of the 14 are actually behind the seats occupied by the first Generation. This is the second level of famlies by price paid and longetivity. The average pew price was $291 which was below that of the average pew … Read more
The Pews, Part 4
So far we have talked about the pews as objects and pews financing the Church. Now we move to actually looking as those who occupied the space. The pew documentation provides a unique view into the generations that attended St. George’s. Those who paid for the right to sit in a certain place in 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
