Summer of Discovery at Elk Run
September 6, 2000
From The Fauquier Times-Democrat, Wednesday, September 6, 2000 (with permission)
By Edward Dandar
It was one year ago last month that members of the congregation of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Catlett were convinced that the site of the old Elk Run Anglican Church - the colonial “mother church” of the Episcopal churches in this region - should be saved.
The late Edward Parry Browning, III, a descendant of the Rev. James Keith, its first minister, donated the 100 ft. x 100 ft. lot to St. Stephen’s Church to be preserved as a historic site.
Since that time, a number of preservation tasks have been accomplished.
Beginning in late April 2000, a group of volunteers, assisted by volunteer archaeologist, Dr. John Eddins, has engaged in archaeological excavations at the site of the old Elk Run Church.
The dig participants have opened 19 excavation units of varying sizes, exposing sections of the stone foundation of the church, including a number of interior and exterior corners.
Much has been learned about the ancient church, and others like it. Historic documents and recent excavations have indicated that the Elk Run Church was a cruciform or cross-shaped building.
The relative positions of the exposed interior and exterior foundation corners as well as the uncovering of the entire south transept segment of the Church foundation validates the unique Greek-cross shape of the church.
At least two other 18th century pre-Revolutionary Anglican churches in northern Virginia, the Aquia Church and the Abingdon Church were built with cruciform plans.
Of the two, only Aquia Church is a true Greek-cross church, a variant of the cruciform shape with symmetrical and equally sized extensions on all sides. Rough measurements taken thus far of the uncovered Elk Run Church foundation strongly indicate that it is a smaller, but Greek-cross structure.
Both the Aquia and Elk Run Churches were built in the 1750s. While Aquia is still an active Church in Stafford County, Elk Run Church was abandoned sometime after 1806.
We are learning more about the fate of Elk Run Church. After abandonment, the building fell into decay, and the brick, wood, and other materials that made up the church were carried off for use in other structures in the area.
What remained fell into the earth and was eventually buried beneath pasture and cedar trees. The Church foundation and other artifacts have been hidden from view for about 170 years.
The main goal at this point in the project is exposure of the entire foundation, including the main walls, the North and South Transepts, any entrances, stairways, and other architectural features.
The excavators are also trying to recover any artifacts that would illustrate activity inside and outside the church. In many parts of the site, this has proven more difficult due to the amount of rubble from fallen walls, tree roots and other disturbances.
Historical research documentation submitted by the Preservation Committee to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources was approved in mid-June for an Elk Run Anglican Church Site Historical Highway Marker. A community ceremony is planned at the Elk Run Church Site for 21 October at 11 AM.
Our continuing research strongly indicates that a cemetery may have been adjacent to the Elk Run Church.
Permission to conduct archeological work on the adjoining property to confirm the existence of the cemetery has been granted by the property owners, William C. and Jacqueline E. Patton of Elk Run, Virginia. Archaeological search for the cemetery will begin later this fall.
Meanwhile, the elder Pattons, A.W. and Pheobe Patton, have given permission to the Preservation Committee for parking on their property across the road from the Church Site to accommodate parking for the highway marker dedication.
GROWING INTEREST
Artifacts uncovered thus far include: pieces of glass from the church windows, plaster fragments from the interior walls, locally made bricks of different color and composition, a large assortment of hand-made nails, broken ceramic dish fragments, a few pre-historic arrow heads, an 1841 dime, and buttons from possibly Colonial-era clothing.
All will eventually be cleaned and labeled and made available for display throughout the community.
Local citizens, Church youth groups and members, Boy Scouts, 4H Club, high school and college students, recent graduates, and out-of-state visitors have participated in this community historical project.
Others wishing to assist at the Elk Run site dig on Saturdays may call St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Office at (540) 788-4252 to leave their name and phone numbers.
Additional project information, initial church foundation measurements, color photos of ongoing archaeological fieldwork and key events can be found at our new Web site address.
The site’s new Web master is David Buckwalter, a graduate of Liberty High School and a first year Freshman at Penn State University. Buckwalter has added some new features to help users navigate through the site’s holdings, including new information on genealogy discovered through Committee research, and the addition of some useful external links.
Donations to support and sustain this preservation effort can be mailed to Treasurer, Elk Run Church Site Preservation Fund, 8538 Greenwich Road, Catlett, Virginia 20119.