Time Period: 1800s

Take 15 minutes and get to know some of our history by walking the church. More information on each topic online

1. Pews, Part 1 2. Pews, Part 2 3. Pews, Part 3 4. Pews, Part 4 5. Pews, Part 5 6. 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

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

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

We have looked at the design of the pews in part 2 and now we turn to how the pews contributed financially to the Church. The pews paid for the 1849 Church and until the 1920’s generally contributed at least 4% of more of revenue back to the Church per year. The illustration  to the … Read more

On Oct 18, 1815, the Virginia Herald reported the consecration of the 2nd Church on Sunday, Oct. 15, 1815 by Bishop Channing Moore. “The occasion brought together a larger congregation than was ever witnessed in this place. About sixty persons were confirmed; and the Holy Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered to more than … Read more

Faulkner Hall is the oldest building at St. George’s, circa 1823. It was built at the time of the Second Church (1815-1848) so it is our closest connection to that church. The oldest picture we have of Faulkner from the 1920’s shows a Dutch design that was later modified. From Ron Shibley, Historic Fredericksburg A … Read more

The writer, minister and abolitionist, Moncure Daniel Conway visited St. George’s as an 11 year old boy visiting one Christmas. This article is just the opposite – General Robert E. Lee, a man in the last 18 months of his life visiting St. George’s.  Lee was 62 and suffering from a heart ailment but it … Read more

Herndon was the son of Dabney Herndon a cashier for the Farmers Bank of Virginia. Its building later became home of the National Bank of Fredericksburg.  The Farmers building was known as “Herndon House” because of the presence of the Herndons. (Daughter Ann went on to marry Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury, ”Pathfinder of the Seas.” … Read more