Baptisms 1858-1914, St. George’s Records
This is Trip’s research into our Parish records from 1858-1913
Time Period: 1800s
John Pearce – St. George’s History Tidbits 1889-1959
(Editor’s notes – John Pearce retired as head of the James Monroe Museum and served for 27 years as a professor in Mary Washington. We appreciate these tidbits he wrote back in 2005 on St. George’s history)
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
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
Rev. Edward McGuire’s role in Christian Education
This week Christian education returns (Sept 18, 2016). In that spirit we remember Rev. Edward McGuire (1813-1858), not only as the longest standing rector but also a leader in Christian education in this church and community. In 1823, Rev. Edward McGuire created Faulkner Hall for Christian Education; was involved as a trustee and organizer in various academies in Fredericksburg; and participated in the fund raising effort for the future Virginia Theological Seminary.
McGuire may be the most important St. Georgian in our history. He has a hall and room named for him; is the only rector with a plaque in the church; and was honored with a stained glass window (“Ascension”) purchased in his name in 1885. In 2009, Trip Wiggins did a forum presentation of Edward McGuire – here .
FIRE! 1854
5 years after the church is consecrated a potentially devastating fire could have destroyed it.
The Creation of the Third Church 1848-49
Several documents surrounding the creation of the third church.
At the conclusion of the construction, Rev. McGuire reported to the Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in 1849:
There is still reason for acknowledging the good hand of our God, in the condition of this parish. We have shared the encouraging tokens of his grace and goodness. The undertaking reported to the last Convention has issued in the completion of a new Church, large and commodious, gratifying the taste in its architectural beauty and promising much advantage to us in prosperity and growth. The builders have been paid, leaving us without debt.
The 1849 Church Builders
More support for Robert Cary Long as St. George’s architect who practiced in Baltimore with examples of workers for St. George’s hired from Baltimore: During the 1981 renovation, Barbara Willis noted the following names written in chalk and covered on the right hand stair wall in the narthex, June, 1981. William Gilill (W H G) … Read more