church

Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia

The first time I viewed Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia, was many, many years back when randomly driving through the night with a friend. I recall how beautiful it looked illuminated at night. I’ve yet to return at night to see and photograph this magnificent structure, but I did return with my father in late September of 2024, when we stopped and walked up and down Main Street and I created a number of photographs of the church.

A touch of Grace in The Plains

Red doors of Grace Episcopal Church

The Plains, originally called White Plains, was around before the Civil War, and in 1831 had a Post Office named The Plains. It grew from there and was incorporated as a town in 1910, though it still remains a very small town with a population of 245 as per the 2020 census. Today it is part of Fauquier County.

Grace in The Plains

The history of Grace Episcopal Church stretches back to 1855, though the current stone structure was consecrated on June 28, 1918 and was built from stones donated from local farms. It’s an example of 13th century rural English Gothic architecture, and perhaps that’s why I find it so compelling, that older gothic style and the beautiful stonework, the arches and steeples, the deep red doors. And unlike some churches in larger towns, this one still has a sizable property that sets the structure away from the road and from distracting power lines. It’s a very beautiful location.

Visit their website to learn more about the history of Grace in the Plains.

The grounds of Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia

Part of the old stone wall around Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, Virginia

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Grace Memorial Church, Port Republic, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

Grace Memorial Church in Port Republic, Virginia, as viewed from their gravel parking lot

My father and I happened by this church while on a road trip elsewhere and on our way back decided to stop and capture some photographs. A storm was headed our way but you can hardly tell as it was coming from the other direction. We left just a few minutes before the rain began to fall.

An angled view showing Grace Memorial Church and their original church bell displayed in the foreground

I wasn’t able to find much historical information about this church, but they did have their original church bell on display in the church yard. The sign there indicated the bell had been purchased at a local auction and was thought to be the Lynnwood School bell. It required a new cradle so the new owner took the bell back to the foundry that had built it which was still in business, McShane Foundry, in Baltimore, Maryland. According to the foundry records this was actually the original church bell and dated from 1889.

The original church bell of Grace Memorial Church

Apparently there used to be an historical marker in the center of the gravel parking lot of the church about the Port Republic Battlefield, marking a battle of the US Civil War that occurred at this location. But it was destroyed in 2006 by a tractor-trailer attempting to turn around in the parking lot. So the marker was rebuilt and relocated just off the other side of the road from the church.

The historical marker says that on June 9, 1862, Confederate General T. J. “Stonewall Jackson” defeated General J. Shield’s vanguard advancing from Elkton under General R. O. Tyler. It says there were 4500 Federals, of which 551 were killed, wounded, or missing, and 450 were captured. There were 6000 Confederates, of which 804 were killed or wounded.

What was once the location of a battle of the US Civil War is now home to a practicing Episcopal church, one whose original church bell was created 27 years after the battle.

Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, Port Republic, Virginia

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Fleetwood Church, Brandy Station, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

A front view of Fleetwood Church in Brandy Station, Virginia

Visible between a break in the trees along the side of James Madison Highway is Fleetwood Church in Brandy Station, Virginia, sitting between Brandy Road and the railroad tracks. It dates back to 1880 and was apparently actively used from 1881 through around 1974. It resides in the general area where many battles of the American Civil War occurred, including the Battle of Brandy Station, the largest cavalry engagement of the Civil War where in 1863 nearly 20,000 horsemen fought, resulting in nearly 1,300 men killed, captured, wounded or missing. A National Park Service website reports that Captain William W. Blackford, an aide of General J.E.B. Stuart remembered the carnage, later writing “Fleetwood Hill was covered so thickly after the battle with dead horses and men that there was not room to pitch the tents among them.”

Apparently, the church may have been built over what was once Brandy Graveyard, and given that and all the people who died in the area during the Civil War battles, it is reportedly known as a location of paranormal activity and has been featured in some TV programs and also hosts local events to help raise money to restore the church.

An angled view of Fleetwood Church. A black and white rendering felt appropriate for this old wooden church.

We had driven by on James Madison Highway many, many times over the years, always noticing and wondering about the church, but never took the time to figure out how to get there to photograph it. I wish I had as back in those days it hadn’t yet been under renovation with the scaffolding around portions of the building. But in Late September of 2024 my father and I were out driving and just happened to end up right there on Brandy Road where the church is located. So now I’ve finally created some photographs.

A wider view, and in color, of Fleetwood Church in Brandy Station, Virginia

Note, the church is privately owned and on private property, so respect the no trespassing signs. If you want to see inside the building then visit during one of the events sometimes held at the church.

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