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
John Coakley (1805-1874)
When he died he was one of the oldest merchants in Fredericksburg selling books as early as 1830, queensware, leather and dry goods. He was a member of the Vestry in 1839 to 1865 (resigning that year) and then 1869-1874 until his death. He was senior warden in 1865 He was involved in many community … Read more
William K. Goolrick (1879-1958)
“Willie” Goolrick was a well known attorney with long years of Vestry service with offices on the first floor of the Bradford building. He service on the Vestry was from 1922-1949 and then 1950-53. The Vestry was dominated in the later years by professional men, such as Goolrick. He served as Senior Warden, Register of … Read more
Marge Arnold (1912-1996)
Marge Arnold was an assistant professor of health, physical education and recreation at Mary Washington College for 32 years. Marge was known for her many interests – boating, books, gardening, history, art, tennis and of course music. She loved gardens and tended those of historic homes like the Rising Sun Tavern, Mary Washington House as … Read more
John Jabez Lanier (1862-1942)
“The noble life, or, what comes to the same thing, the Christian life, consists of rising above the petty selfishness and meanness of our individual animal nature; it makes our wealth, our pleasures, our politics, our faith, fruitful in the great organism of society, cooperating with the eternal purpose of God seeking the good of … Read more
Alfred M. Randolph (1836-1918)
St. George’s had two Civil War rectors – Alfred M. Randolph served October 1858 to November 1862, Magruder Maury December 1864 to April 24, 1871. Randolph was 8th in descent from William Randolph who immigrated to Va in 1674 He was a graduate of William and Mary and in 1855 and Virginia Theological Seminary 1858 … Read more
Carrol H. Quenzel (1906-1968)
Quenzel was both a librarian and professor of history at Mary Washington College. Over his lifetime he was a prolific author with 27 publications. We know him especially for History of St. George’s published in 1951. The history was written “at the suggestion of the Vestry”. No history of the church had been published since … Read more
A. Wellington Wallace (1843-1927)
Return to referring page Wallace was one of four sons of John Wallace who fought in the Civil War. He ended the war as a corporal with Company C, 30th Virginia. The war interrupted his legal career which was resumed and he was licensed to practice law in 1866. Wallace tended to stay with the … Read more
Archibald McPherson (1715-1754)
Archibald McPherson was born in 1715 in the Northern part of England. He came to this country in early manhood and settled in Spotsylvania county. He was certainly a member of the upper class but he had sympathies to the poor and needy gentleman of education, refinement and wealth, and a friend to the poor … Read more
Charles Sydnor (1944- )
Charles Sydnor became assistant rector November 1, 1973 and then rector 1976 and served until May 1, 2003. His years were a continuation of a number of trends begun during the Faulkner year. St. George’s continued to look outward into the social and economic problems within Fredericksburg Major Events include Funds for the … Read more
Joseph B. Ficklen, Jr. 1848-1907
Ficklen’s father was an owner of Belmont and an original pew holder in 1849. He built the original Bridgewater Mills in 1822. Two sons, Joseph B. Ficklen, Jr. and William Ficklen became partners in the mills. The mill sat on the lower raceway, just south of the Falmouth Bridge in Fredericksburg. It had the capacity … 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
