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Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church
A Brief History
Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church was established by the Rev'd Nicholas Hamner Cobbs (later Bishop of Alabama) in 1824. The first building was completed in 1825 on land given by Anne Irvine Moseley, the mother of Elizabeth Moseley Radford. Mrs. Moseley had purchased part of the Poplar Forest tract from Martha Jefferson Randolph, the oldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson, who had given the land to his daughter for her dowry in 1790.
The original church was torn down and the present one erected on the same site in 1844. In the same year William Radford and Elizabeth Moseley Radford deeded the additional land to enlarge the church property and provide a cemetery for members and their families. The cemetery is still in use.
A lack of funds to make necessary repairs closed the church temporarily in 1911, although occasional services were held in the interim. In 1941, at the instigation of Malcolm Griffin, interested families organized to restore and reopen the church. Since that date services have been held continuously.
The church has retained much of the original furnishings, including the pews, the altar rail, and the Bishop's chair. All the doors and windows are original. In 1897 the gallery at the back of the church was removed, but the side door entrance to the gallery remains. In the same year the wooden ceiling and a recessed chancel were added. It is believed that the marble baptismal font was installed during this period, since the pedestal bears the label of Lynchburg Marble Works which was in business from 1879-1883.
When the church reopened in the 1940s, the present altar, the Priest's and Bishop's chairs (designed by local artisans Julian and George Lindsey), and the altar cross and prayer stand were given as memorials. The Tiffany-styled stained glass window above the altar was given by a subscription raised by Miss Ethel Dirom. The window was ordered from a New York workroom. Because of the color and design, there is some speculation that it is a true, albeit unsigned, Tiffany window.
Saint Stephen's was placed on the State Register of Historic Places in 1985 and subsequently was included in the National Historic Register.
Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church was established by the Rev'd Nicholas Hamner Cobbs (later Bishop of Alabama) in 1824. The first building was completed in 1825 on land given by Anne Irvine Moseley, the mother of Elizabeth Moseley Radford. Mrs. Moseley had purchased part of the Poplar Forest tract from Martha Jefferson Randolph, the oldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson, who had given the land to his daughter for her dowry in 1790.
The original church was torn down and the present one erected on the same site in 1844. In the same year William Radford and Elizabeth Moseley Radford deeded the additional land to enlarge the church property and provide a cemetery for members and their families. The cemetery is still in use.
A lack of funds to make necessary repairs closed the church temporarily in 1911, although occasional services were held in the interim. In 1941, at the instigation of Malcolm Griffin, interested families organized to restore and reopen the church. Since that date services have been held continuously.
The church has retained much of the original furnishings, including the pews, the altar rail, and the Bishop's chair. All the doors and windows are original. In 1897 the gallery at the back of the church was removed, but the side door entrance to the gallery remains. In the same year the wooden ceiling and a recessed chancel were added. It is believed that the marble baptismal font was installed during this period, since the pedestal bears the label of Lynchburg Marble Works which was in business from 1879-1883.
When the church reopened in the 1940s, the present altar, the Priest's and Bishop's chairs (designed by local artisans Julian and George Lindsey), and the altar cross and prayer stand were given as memorials. The Tiffany-styled stained glass window above the altar was given by a subscription raised by Miss Ethel Dirom. The window was ordered from a New York workroom. Because of the color and design, there is some speculation that it is a true, albeit unsigned, Tiffany window.
Saint Stephen's was placed on the State Register of Historic Places in 1985 and subsequently was included in the National Historic Register.