History Blog

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — St. George’s Episcopal Church invites the public to attend a special presentation of the recently completed archaeological study of the church property on Sunday, August 30, from 2 pm – 4 pm in the Nave at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 905 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg. 

The presentation will be led by Dr. Kerri Barile Tambs, Principal Investigator with Mead & Hunt, who directed the archaeological research conducted as part of St. George’s ongoing Open to All in Love construction and accessibility project. The study examined areas within McGuire Hall, Faulkner Hall, and the historic churchyard and has yielded significant new insights into nearly 300 years of Fredericksburg history. 

Among the report’s most important findings are the discovery of previously unknown remains of St. George’s second church, built in 1815, and new evidence documenting how the church grounds and graveyard have changed over time. Archaeologists uncovered foundation features, stone column supports, architectural materials, and other evidence that allowed researchers to reconstruct the appearance and location of the long-lost church building. 

The investigation also revealed that portions of the churchyard landscape were significantly altered during major construction projects in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. This research has helped provide a more complete understanding of how the church grounds have evolved through multiple generations of church growth and development. 

In addition, the archaeological team recovered thousands of artifacts spanning centuries of local history, including colonial-era ceramics, personal objects, Civil War-era artifacts, and materials connected to the church’s long role in the Fredericksburg community. The team also made significant and surprising discoveries about burials in the graveyard while ensuring that human remains were handled with reverence and respect. 

“This project has provided an extraordinary opportunity to learn more about the people, buildings, and events that shaped St. George’s and Fredericksburg over nearly three centuries,” said Dr. Barile Tambs. “The findings demonstrate that there is still much to discover beneath one of the city’s most important historic sites.” 

“The wealth of information uncovered through archaeology will undoubtedly help us to better understand our history and continue to tell our story in the future,” noted the Rev. Joe Hensley, rector of St. George’s.  

The presentation will include an overview of the archaeological investigation, key discoveries, historical context, artifact findings, and the significance of the work for understanding Fredericksburg’s development from the colonial era to the present day. Time will be provided for audience questions.  

Additionally, St. George’s rector, the Rev. Joe Hensley, will provide an update on the church’s Open to All in Love construction project, which includes accessibility improvements, addressing deferred maintenance, constructing a columbarium, and funding a building care endowment.  

Event Details 

• What: Presentation of the Archaeological Study of St. George’s Episcopal Church Property
• Speaker: Dr. Kerri Barile Tambs, Mead & Hunt; the Rev. Joe Hensley, rector of St. George’s
• When: Sunday, August 30, 2 pm – 4 pm
• Where: St. George’s Episcopal Church Nave, 905 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA
• Cost: Free and open to the public 

Community members, history enthusiasts, preservation advocates, and all those interested in Fredericksburg’s rich heritage are encouraged to attend. 

For more information, contact St. George’s Episcopal Church at 540.373.4133; office@stgeorgesepiscopal.net.  

*Update: Due to overwhelming interest we will have the event take place in our Nave to accomodate more people.