History of Saint James’: Early Saint James’

History

Sep 7

BY RICHARD GOOKIN

The history of Saint James’ Episcopal Church in Warrenton begins with its first rector, the Rev. George Lemmon, who served for 30 years at the new frame church built in 1816 on Alexandria Pike in Warrenton. The church was named Saint James’ and it served the needs of the parish until 1850. The following account of those early years was written by the Rt. Rev. William Meade in Vol. 2 of his “Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia,” published in 1857. Meade helped with the revitalization of The Episcopal Church before the Civil War.

The Rt. Rev. William Meade as a young man. (Diocese of Virginia)

In the year 1816, the Rev. George Lemmon, of Baltimore, who graduated at Princeton College a year or two before me, took charge of both Hamilton and Leeds parishes, and continued to be the minister, with the exception of a few years spent in Hagerstown, Maryland, until his death. In my report to the Convention of 1847, I find the following notice of him:

In the death of the Rev. Mr. Lemmon (1846), the Church has parted with one who has grown old and gray in her service, having devoted his strength of body and mind to the promotion of her welfare. He who now addresses you has lost his earliest and oldest brother in the ministry. Our acquaintance, our friendship, our choice of the ministry, are all of the same date, and reach back to forty years save one. During all this period we have been living in the most intimate communion of soul. A sounder theologian, a more true-hearted minister, a more sincere Christian, I have never known.’

Never was there a minister more esteemed and beloved by his people of all ages and characters. His preaching talents were not attractive, on account of the harshness of his voice, but he was faithful to the truth, and understood how to present it experimentally to the people. His forte was in private intercourse as a pastor and gentleman. Though strict in his views of fashionable amusement, in which the young are apt to delight, yet so tender, courteous and loving was he, that the young were ever pleased with his company and conversation. It is delightful to hear him spoken of to this day by his old parishioners. His health was very imperfect for many years, and his ministrations very irregular; yet such was the attachment of his people in both congregations that they bore it almost without complaining.

This essay was originally published in 2016 to mark the bicentennial of Saint James’ Episcopal Church. Read more at saintjameswarrenton.org/history.