St. George’s Building Project and Capital Campaign
updated December 18, 2025
You are welcome at St. George’s: Inclusive of race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender expression, and tradition.
St. George’s Open to All in Love Capital Campaign emerged from the dreams of parishioners – like you – to fully live into our welcome statement by making sure our facilities are truly welcoming and accessible to all both today and for generations to come. Open to All in Love addresses four main areas: Maintenance, Endowment, Accessibility, and Columbarium.
For an overview of the project, read our Vision Brochure here.
For additional information about the project, read our Detail Brochure here.
As of December 2025, the first round of construction is nearing completion. This work includes: structural repairs to Faulkner Hall, internal ADA ramp, and office hallway bathroom transformation. We have also done additional flooring replacement in the nursery and Elsie Lewis rooms and painted those areas as well as the office hallway. The archaeological work in the graveyard is completed, with analysis of findings currently underway. Stone mason experts have also moved stones impacted by the construction areas and will return after construction concludes to return stones to their original place or where necessary, move them to a new location.
The remainder of our construction (exterior ADA ramp, columbarium, graveyard hand railing, Sydnor courtyard repairs, water damage repairs) is part of our second building permit which is currently under review. We hope to begin construction in January of February 2026.
We will continue to update this page throughout the project and will share new information as we have it. We hope that you will review the information here and prayerfully consider how you might support this project.
If you have questions about the project or would like to share feedback, please send it to us here.
Click for Open to All in Love Capital Campaign Pledge Card
In this video, our rector, the Rev. Joe Hensley gives an overview of our capital campaign:
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“It’s high time that we make our buildings and grounds better reflect who we are: open to all in love.“ |
Project Scope and Cost:
Cost estimates plus contingencies and soft costs total approximately $3.5M, plus we hope to raise $2M for the endowment fund to provide for future building issues. Our goal is to raise a minimum of $4M from St. Georgian pledges. We anticipate additional funds may be available from friends of St. George’s and grant funders.
We remain committed to fully completing the entire project, which includes four main areas:
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| Maintenance | Endowment | Accessibility | Columbarium |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to do all of this now? Could we break the project into smaller pieces?
The current scope of the Open to All in Love project was determined after years of work looking at the needs we face and the mission of the parish. We have already downsized the project to what we believe is a workable amount that can be accomplished as a whole project. Breaking up the project would end up costing more money. Delaying maintenance will be more expensive as well.
Who is making the decisions about this project?
The vestry is ultimately responsible for decisions regarding funding and building projects. They approved the current scope of the project in June 2024. We have a design team composed of our Rector, Chief of Staff, architect, and members of the parish with experience in design, St. George’s buildings and grounds, and fundraising that has been advising the vestry.
Who is working on the project, in addition to parish leaders and staff?
Since 2018, we have been working with Stephen Koenig of LKH Architects in Alexandria, VA, on several projects, and are delighted that he continues to serve as our chief architect. We are planning to contract with Daniel and Co. (the company that worked on the renovation of the nave) for the construction work. We are working with local landscape designer, Sally Harman, on the design of the columbarium and landscaping in the graveyard.
When will the actual construction start?
Construction began in summer of 2025. We hope the entire project will be complete summer of 2026.
What impact will this have on our historic graveyard?
This project will result in an overall improvement of Fredericksburg’s oldest graveyard as we add a columbarium, redesign landscaping, and improve the walk-ability of the path. We will have to move a few gravestones in order to construct the entry ramp into the narthex. At this point, we do not think we will have to relocate any actual graves. We are contracting with Dovetail Cultural Resources to ensure that the process is done with utmost care for our existing gravestones and that any archaeological discoveries are handled appropriately.
Has our project been approved by the Architectural Review Board?
We received approval for the concept of the church entrance ramp in May 2023. We also received the support of Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. (HFFI) for the ramp during public hearings, since this is for the purpose of handicap accessibility. The ARB has approved all design details for the project.
Do we really need a ramp into the church?
Most parishioners will become disabled, temporarily or permanently at some point. Many St. Georgians who can no longer safely navigate the church steps also feel unsafe walking down the hill to use the existing elevator lift or parking on the hill. A ramp offers graceful entry into the church near the front entrance and existing handicap parking on level ground. It provides a solution that will be more aesthetically pleasing than mechanical alternatives. Ultimately, the ramp is needed so that we can more authentically say we are open to all in love.
Are there other sources of funding besides donations?
There are some grants for historic preservation of churches and graveyards that we will apply for in the coming year. As we grow our Landmark Building Fund, the income from that fund will also provide support. If needed, we may seek loans to cover our costs in the short-term as donations are received over the next three years.
Can people/organizations outside of St. George’s donate?
Absolutely! We know that St. George’s is a treasured part of Fredericksburg’s history and architecture. Anyone can donate to the church for the overall campaign or give specifically to the endowment by donating to the St. George’s Landmark Building Fund at the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region.
Are there other ways to contribute to this project in addition to monetary donations?
We ask everyone to pray for our parish, our leadership, and for God to bless this project. Please help spread the word in the parish about the importance of this work. We also need help as we carry out the campaign and continue to follow up and thank donors over the next few years. Please contact our campaign co-chairs if you are interested in helping.
How does the capital campaign connect with our annual budget?
We encourage households to prayerfully consider their annual giving first, since we must continue to support our robust ministries. Then pray about whether God is calling you to make an additional sacrificial gift toward the campaign.
Why do we need a building endowment?
Our historic buildings and grounds will always need care and maintenance, including periodic renovations, which are very expensive. Having an endowment will provide passive income that can be saved over time to pay for these projects. Our church will be able to focus more on our mission with less energy spent on fundraising for maintenance.
How long is the pledge period for the “Open to All in Love” campaign and when does it begin?
First Fruits Sunday, November 17, is the beginning of a three-year giving period for the “Open to All in Love” capital campaign. Your annual ministry pledge will be for one year, as it has been in the past.
How can I share feedback or ask questions about the project?
If you have questions about the project or would like to share feedback, please share send it to us here.