St. George’s beloved historic graveyard has recently received some much needed TLC. Recently, we had a special Graveyard Care Day to clean our historic stones. We have also been working with an expert in stone care and preservation to provide some additional care.
Our First Ever Graveyard Cleanup Day
On Saturday, October 28, 2023, about thirteen St. Georgians showed up to provide care for our historic graveyard. Volunteers used water, soft brushes, and plastic palette scrapers, to clean nearly half of the stones in the graveyard. Thanks to St. Georgians Gina Moriarty, Brenda Hynson, and Shannon Lee, everyone used the proper techniques to carefully do the cleaning. Gina, Brenda, and Shannon have each taken classes through the Fredericksburg City Cemetery on how to care for historic gravestones.
The Graveyard Care Day was all part of St. George’s celebration of Hallowtide – the time leading up to and including All Saints and All Souls. During Hallowtide, we sit in the space between death and rebirth, remembering saints and sainted loved ones, and praying for those who have gone before and are in between. Caring for some of our oldest and most beloved saints in our graveyard is one such way we are intentionally remembering we are all part of a larger Body of Christ and each of us belongs to the Communion of Saints.
Calling in the Experts
Additionally, we have been working with Robert Mosco of Mosco Cemetery Monument Repair for ongoing maintenance and preservation older stones in need of additional care. Shortly before our Graveyard Care Day, Robert Mosco and his associate, Tom Reger worked to:
- Correct the mortal color and inscribe missing lettering on the stone for Elizabeth Lyons
- Add mortar and complete preservation work on the stones for Charles Colson, Michael Jackson, John Pearson, and Henry Garett White.
- Reassemble the stone for Mrs. M.J. Carlin
- Add mortar and provide preservation work for the footstones of Elizabeth Lyon and S.W. Fry.
Thank you to all who came to do the clean-up of the entire cemetery.