Anglican Church at Elk Run needs your help

Great strides have been made at Elk Run. Ten years ago, we embarked on an archaeological quest to discover, and then uncover, the foundation and remains of the 1750s Anglican Church at Elk Run—the first such church in Fau-quier County.

Our efforts have been richly rewarded. Now we enter a final phase of the project, the remaining construction and dedication of the mini-museum that will capture the history of the church and surrounding area.

Site work began in 1999 under the direction of a professional archaeologist, and that work culminated in exposing the heretofore unknown stone foundation that was laid down in the 1750s in the form of a Greek cross.

The southern Fauquier church site is significant because it was the first brick Anglican church established in what was the county's early to mid-1700s frontier area.

The Elk Run settlement and church served as a government administrative and jumping off point for further expan-sion of what is now Fauquier County.

The Elk Run Anglican Church served as the mother church for Hamilton Parish in Fauquier, and its first rector, the Rev. James Keith, was the grandfather of Chief Justice John Marshall.

Until now, the only recorded description of the church was made by Bishop Meade who, in 1857, wrote that it was a "substantial brick church, cruciform, I believe. I am not certain that the roof was on it when I first saw it in 1811. Its walls continued for many years after this and I saw them gradually disappear during my annual visits to the conventions."

The church fell into disuse sometime after 1803 as the younger population moved north and west to more profitable agricultural areas, and other non-Anglican churches became established in the area.

The Elk Run Church is located about 15 miles southeast of Catlett on Va. 806.

On completion of archaeological field work, the foundation stones were covered with top soil to preserve them.

However, a small portion of the original foundation will be left open within the museum for public viewing. The museum measures roughly 21 feet by 21 feet, and will expose an eventual 6-by-6 portion of the old foundation.

The unique shape of the museum will allow visitors to walk around the foundation unit and view pictures on its walls that will show the history of the surrounding area, the church and its archaeological discovery captured in maps and photographs since 1999.

Numerous artifacts have come to light, including American Indian arrowheads, handmade nails, ceramic fragments, early coins, brick and glass. A burial ground was discovered adjacent to the church.

The museum at this time is under roof, with walls closed in and windows installed. The Elk Run Church Site volun-teers are in critical need of additional funds to continue their work.

They need to install roof shingles, lay a small 2-foot-high portion of brick around the outside of the building, install electric and vinyl siding, finish an inside cement floor, and cover the cost of design and framing of the history mak-ing information for the walls.

Citizens, organizations and businesses are asked to contribute in establishing, preserving and achieving this impor-tant Historic Church Park goal.

More information on efforts over the past 10 years can be found at elkrunchurch.org.