Elk Run Church Goes High-Tech
March 8, 2000
From The Fauquier Times-Democrat, Wednesday, March 8, 2000 (with permission)
By John Toler, Times-Democrat Staff Writer
Although their project is deeply rooted in the 18th century, members of the Elk Run Church Site Preservation Committee are using 21st-century tools to keep the public informed and raise funds to finance their efforts.
A new Web site outlining the project, including photos, text and links to related Web sites and e-mail addresses, was recently brought online. The site address is: http://www.mnsinc.com/jhammond/final2.htm.
Ed Dandar, committee chairman, said, “The Rev. James A. Hammond, Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Remington, made a major contribution of his time and talents in getting our Web site up and running.”
“Our first objective is to inform the public of our preservation effort and progress to date,” Dandar continued. “We also want to provide the status of our historical research effort and encourage support of our activities.”
Archaeological work at the site of Fauquier County’s first Episcopal church, which was the center of the village of Elk Run from about 1740 to 1776, began in earnest last summer. Following a winter hiatus, work will continue this spring. Photos of the work appear on the Web site.
Long neglected, the 100 foot by 100 foot plot was given to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church near Catlett by the late Edward P. Browning, a descendant of the Rev. James Keith, who was Elk Run’s first rector.
Later this month, the committee will submit its application for a state historic marker for the site, which is located just off Elk Run Church Road. Dandar can be reached at his e-mail address, efdandar@us.net.