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ABIDING FAITH Oldest church in Orange 'more than a historic building' WANT TO GO?

March 22, 2008 12:15 am

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

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.

Earnest continues to describe St. Thomas Parish as having three more churches before the Revolutionary War: the Pine Stake Church, the Middle or Brick Church, located between the other two, and the oldest of the three, the Orange Church, situated near Ruckersville. He stopped to see it one day and described it this way:

"The old church, which is of wood, has undergone so many repairs since the time it was built, that little if any of the original timber is to be found in it. As I passed it my heart was saddened to see this relic of former times so far gone into dilapidation as to be wholly unfit for the sacred purposes for which it was set apart."

The structure known as the Middle, or Brick, Church fared better structurally, at least initially. It was located on land owned by the Taylor family about three miles northeast of Orange Court House on the Fredericksburg Road, on the property now known as Meadowfarm. It was thought to have been built between 1750 and 1758, and by 1806 it still was in good condition.

"But," said the Rev. Earnest, "what time failed to accomplish was reached by the unsparing hand of man" when usable building materials were taken away.

"The walls fell, and the triumph of the invaders was complete, as they carried away as so many captives the vanquished unresisting bricks. The altar-pieces, executed in gilt letters were torn from their ancient resting-places, rent into fragments, and were afterward attached to some articles of household furniture."

The massive silver cup and paten used for Communion were spared. Engraved with St. Thomas' name, they had been given, Earnest estimated, about a century before, by Frances Madison, grandmother of President James Madison, Mrs. James Taylor, Mrs. Balmaine "and other good women." They are still used for Christmas and Easter services.

The remaining church of the ancient trio, the Pine Stake Church, is assumed to have been constructed about the same time as the Brick Church. It had been built on land originally owned by Francis Taliaferro near Mountain Run, about 15 miles northeast of Orange Court House. It still was standing as late as 1813.

The present church

From about 1800 into the 1830s, parishioners met in each other's homes or in the county courthouse. Ministers of different faiths, who often donated their services, included Presbyterian James Wadell, the famed "Blind Preacher," whose little wooden church was a few miles south of town.

Finally the congregation was able to purchase, from James Forbes, a lot on Caroline Street in the town of Orange, where the present building was begun in 1833. It was patterned after Christ Church in Charlottesville, purported to be the only religious structure ever designed by Thomas Jefferson. It is believed that part of the work was done by slaves owned by parishioners.

The Rev. Earnest candidly reports that during the 1850s heated discussions over the nonpayment of his salary twice resulted in his resignation. Eventually times improved, ministers were paid, and a new front to the building was added in the 1850s with columns that support the steeple that came at a later date.

In addition to the treasure of Communion silver, favorite historic mementos include the pew in which Gen. Robert E. Lee sat during services in the winter of 1863-64. The locust tree in the front of the building, which has its own plaque on the adjacent wall, designates it as the place where his horse, Traveller, waited for him.

One memorable day was Sunday, Nov. 22, 1863, when both Jefferson Davis and Lee attended church. Capt. Benjamin Wesley, Justice of North Carolina, according to a letter written to his wife, "arrived early to secure good seats." He described Davis as being the "lean, intellectual President" and referred to Lee at one point as "beefy and fat yet holds a high head and is the very impersonation of dignity and manly power."

After hard times during and after the war, by 1885 the vestry was able to make further improvements to the church building. Rectangular window frames were replaced with arches and stained-glass panes, one of which was made in the Tiffany workrooms. A small parish hall was constructed in 1912 and the present one in 1928.

In the 1920s members voted whether to follow the trend in the South of trying to erase memories of slavery by removing church galleries that traditionally had been used by slaves. There was only one vote against the action at St. Thomas, and the narrow, winding stair and balcony were taken away.

Additions since 1962 include the rector's study, the brick walks, covered and enclosed entrances and a large parking lot behind the church. The rector's study alone came at a cost of $85,000, compared with the $3,350 cost of building the church in 1833 money.

THE CHURCH TODAY

Today St. Thomas claims about 350 members, including a youth group numbering 50 members and an active Sunday school.

Longtime member Harriet Moore says: "Loving St. Thomas is not just a Sunday kind of love. It is always a homecoming, a place of refuge in times of pain or fear and a place to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Joseph Rowe, who has been a member since 1952, communicates the meaning of the church for him by saying: "First there is the handsome and majestic building where we worship using the Book of Common Prayer that still contains much of the beauty of its original Elizabethan cadences. The adjoining parish hall is where I enjoy the warmth of the friendship of the finest people I know."

The Rev. Lin Hutton adds: "St. Thomas Church is more than a historic building and grounds. Our congregation is actively involved in numerous community outreach programs. and the personal spiritual growth of our members is encouraged and supported."

Patricia LaLand of Orange is a freelance writer. E-mail her in care of gwoolf@freelancestar .com.