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1742 Fredericksville
Parish was formed in 1742 and three years later the vestry, including Thomas
Meriwether and Robert Lewis, ordered three churches
built in the parish and the one erected on the site of the present Grace
Church was known as the Middle or Belvoir Church, and later as Walker's.
This was also the site of a mountain chapel built by the earliest settlers
in the area, likely in the 1730's. The 1745 church was a square framed,
wooden building, plastered and white-washed, and ceiled inside under the
rafters. Foundation stones of this building are still visible by the wall
directly in front of the church. Also visible to the north side of the
church are the old horse mounting stones which were used well into the early
part of this century by those who came to church on horseback. Of the early
Walker's Church Bishop Meade writes in 1857, "It was built upon the
site of a still older and ruder house, and stood on the side of the road
from Orange Court House to Charlottesville, at the end of a noble avenue
of oaks - now no more - leading down to Mr. Walker's old seat, Belvoir,
itself no more, having been consumed by fire, but for a long time the seat
of hospitality to persons coming to church from a distance."
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1751 The
second rector of the parish was Rev. James Maury from whom Thomas Jefferson
received his early education before attending the College of William
and Mary. Mr. Jefferson served on the vestry of the parish 1767-1770.
Colonial vestries set property boundaries, protected orphans, widows, the
poor and mentally deficient, and ordered levies of tobacco to support the
Established Church. Jefferson later undid the civil power of the church
with his Statute for Religious Freedom. |
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1827 Most
felt that Walker's Church needed extensive repairs. A public pleas for monies
was made and repairs on the seventy year old structure followed. |
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1845 The
vestry resolved to erect a new church and a four man committee was appointed
to decide its design. The architect for the new church was William
Strickland, who designed the Second Bank of the United States, the familiar
tower which was added to Independence Hall around 1820, and other important
buildings in Philadelphia. In the 1840's, Strickland was living in Nashville,
Tennessee, where he designed the State Capitol. Workers began quarrying
stone from Rougemont, a nearby farm in 1846. The cornerstone was laid in
1848, but construction had halted by 1853 for want of money. That same year
William Cabell Rives returned to his home at Castle Hill after serving for
three years as Minister to France and through the energies of his wife,
Judith Page Rives, the church was completed and consecrated in 1855. The
cost of the new building was $20,000. |
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1883 Four
acres of land surrounding the original two acres (which had been purchased
in 1769 from John Walker for 40 shillings)
were given to the parish by William C. Rives, Jr. for a self-perpetuating
cemetery, to be used for burial purposes for members of Grace Church and
their friends. Later, four more acres were purchased from the Everett Estate,
and in 1960 James Derieux of Mulberry Hill donated three additional acres
of
the cemetery. |
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1895 The
church burned Saturday night, February 9, leaving only the tower and four
walls standing. Hand carved oak pews, a
beautiful marble font and plaques of marble were destroyed. The church's
1,575 pound bell was saved, however, and still rings each Sunday. Almost
at once after the fire, the rebuilding was started with funds provided by
an insurance policy taken from John Armstrong Chaloner. |
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1896 The
newly reconstructed building was consecrated with a new recessed chancel
but otherwise restored to its
original strength and elegance |
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1929 The
first Blessing of the Hounds service took place on Thanksgiving Day. The
service, which continues annually today,
is a religious tradition begun in eighth century France by St. Hubert, the
patron saint of hunters. Grace Church was the first church in this country
to institute such a service. |
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1971 The
Frank Leslie Robinson Memorial building, in memory of a Rector who served
the parish from 1910 to 1943, and as Rector
Emeritus till 1960, was completed. This was an addition to a Parish House
which was constructed in 1933. |
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1986 A
sacristy was added to the structure to the right of the altar. Granite stone
from Massachusetts was used to
replicate the local stone which makes up the rest of Grace Church.
Reflecting changes brought by time and inflation, the small addition cost
nearly three times as much as the original church building. |
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1995 Grace
Church hires it's first female rector! |
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Thus, although the church community historically predates the Revolutionary
War, it is still alive today. A president, and several members of Congress
have regularly worshipped here. Descendents of some of the original vestry
members continue to hold active membership in the church. The church
provided Christian worship and support for its members as well as outreach
activities to assist the needy in the area and beyond.
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