IN A COUNTY as old as Orange, it's quite a dis- tinction to be the oldest church, although St. Thomas Episcopal had to start out Anglican to do it. And, since so much of the history of this area starts in the time of Gov. Alexander Spotswood, that's a natural place to begin its story.
When the governor first took definitive steps to move colonization westward and establish the legendary Germanna iron mine, Orange County and what was to become St. Thomas Parish were part of Spotsylvania County and St. Mark's Parish.
Over a number of years, the amoebalike shifting of county boundaries resulted in Orange County's founding in 1734 and the 1740 designation of St. Thomas Parish, whose western limit at that time was the summit of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Since church records before 1852 were destroyed during the Civil War, the story of St. Thomas depends on information from a history of the church written in 1933 and an earlier two books written by Bishop Meade titled "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," published in Philadelphia.
The sections on St. Thomas rely heavily on the contributions of the Rev. Joseph Earnest, then its rector, written in 1857.
THE EARLY BUILDINGS
Earnest described the first church, called Church in the Wilderness, as being built "about ten miles northwest of Orange Court House on the right bank of the Rapidan River" near an ancient American Indian burial ground. He indicated that he was told the church was used as early as 1723 and that it still was in use in 1740.
The minister at that time was a Scot, he said, "whose name I have not been able to ascertain but who it seems was fond of good cheer and a game of cards." He lived on the nearby property of Benjamin Cave.
Eventually the church was moved about eight miles, closer to the developing center of county population, then known as Orange Court House, where, in 1857, it still was standing.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 119 Caroline St. in the town of Orange holds services at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. from September to June, and 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the summer. A nursery is available for the second service. Tours may be arranged by calling 540/672-3761. The Web site is ndearing.com/stthomas.html.
