St. George's Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg, VA, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

St. George's Episcopal Church is a Gothic Revival parish church at 901 Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It belongs to one of the oldest Anglican congregations in the area, and its churchyard and spire are a familiar part of the historic downtown streetscape.

The story behind it

The parish of St. George goes back to the early 1700s, when Fredericksburg was a young river town on the Rappahannock. The congregation has worshipped here through the colonial era, the American Revolution and the Civil War, and it is still an active Episcopal church today.

The building you see now dates from the mid-19th century and was built in the Gothic Revival style, which was popular for churches in America at the time. Fredericksburg was heavily damaged in the Civil War, and like many churches in town, St. George's was caught up in the wartime history of the city.

What to look for

• Notice the pointed arches and vertical lines of the exterior, which are typical of Gothic Revival design and set the church apart from the many brick Georgian buildings nearby.
• Look at the churchyard, where old gravestones show family names and dates that reach well back into Fredericksburg's past.
• Step back across the street to take in the full height of the building and see how it anchors the corner of Princess Anne Street.
• Pay attention to the older houses and storefronts around the church, which show how the neighborhood has kept its historic character.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes to walk around the exterior and the churchyard, longer if you like reading gravestones.
• Walking the grounds is easy from downtown, but the interior is mainly open for services and events, so check current opening hours or visitor arrangements before you go.
• Be respectful: this is a working church and a burial ground, so keep voices low and stay on the paths.
• Fredericksburg's historic downtown, with its shops, cafes and the Rappahannock riverfront, is a short walk away, so the church fits well into a longer stroll.

See it on a quest

The Oz Escape in Fredericksburg is a good way to see this church as one stop on a longer walk through the area. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in front of what you are looking at. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Fredericksburg, VA suits anyone who likes a mystery with their history. The route takes you through the streets around the church, the app shares the story of each place as you get there, and you work out a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.