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
Quenzel – Chapter 1
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Quenzel – Introduction
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Louis Tiffany and his Techniques
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Civil War Lecture, Aug. 3, 2016 -“War Comes to the Church”
The video We attracted at least 175 to St. George’s on Aug. 3, 2016 to hear Steward Henderson talk about St. George’s role in the Civil War. Steward is second from the right in the picture, above. The talk was sponsored by St. George’s Docents. Rev. Joe Hensley introduced Steward while emphasizing the importance of history … Read more
The Pews, Part 2
Design and Changes St. George’s Pews are boxed pews, encased in paneling as opposed to the open pews. It is likely that this was a holdover from the first St. George’s in the 1730’s. Box pews provided privacy and allowed the family to sit together. Pews were originally purchased from the church by their owners … Read more
The Pews, Part 1
Pews emerged at the time of the Protestant Reformation. Most early churches were built around a dome or central area where priests or preachers would preach, while the congregation stood around. The rise of the pulpit as the focal point of the church with the sermon as a central act of Christian worship, especially in … Read more
The Parsons Organ
Organs have been in the church since the colonial period. The organ committee led by Erik William Suter then organist at the National Cathedral met after 2002 to decide about whether the church should embark upon procuring a new organ or renovating what was here. They decided the existing 1875 organ supplemented by an additional … Read more
St. George’s Bell – “For Whom the Bell Tolls”
In May, 1856, the Fredericksburg News reported that the 1,510 pound bell for St Georges was “elevated to its position” into the steeple. That implies a hoist or lift but given no modern cranes or helicopter at the time it was still a job. Did it go through the middle of the Church or on … Read more
The Town Clock at St. George’s -“Does Anyone Really Know What Time It is?”
The clock we see outside St. George’s today is a stately piece that still presides over a skyline that has not significantly changed since 1855. Some people may see the clock as an anachronism in a day of digital watches and satellite regulated cell phones. However, during the recent renovation we received a scathing letter … Read more
Road to Emmaus (1912)
Inscription: None Maker/Date: Tiffany Studios, New York, 1912 Description – The story of this window is from Luke, chapter 24, verses 13 to 35. Jesus Christ rises from the dead (before dawn) and makes five appearances on the day of His rising. This window represents #3 below: 1 To Mary Magdalene [given a message to … 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
