Christ Episcopal Church history

James Madison (who later became a bishop) and served Frederick Parish over four decades (the longest of any rector to date) until his much-mourned death in 1821.

The parish erected a parsonage, but its rector since 1824, the Rev.

As his first official act as newly consecrated assistant bishop of Virginia, Meade consecrated the new brick Christ Church on October 30, 1829.

In 1830, the diocese held its annual convention in the new church (which proved to set the style for Winchester churches for decades).

Meanwhile, in 1837, Meade consecrated St Thomas Chapel at Middletown, Virginia, which Christ Church had planted and which remains today as a historic site as well as active parish.

Balmain arrived in Winchester after marrying Lucy Taylor (1757-1841) of Orange.

After Balmain's death, Meade effectively served as the parish's priest-in-charge until 1845, although he was consecrated as the Rt.

Hebron (the cemetery itself starting as a Lutheran cemetery though when that church burned down in 1853 four additional denominations including Presbyterians and Episcopalians established adjacent cemeteries there).

Vestryman Bruce also established the Winchester Academy and helped bring a railroad to Winchester before his death in 1855.

The latter lost three of his six sons who enlisted in the Confederate cause before dying himself in 1863.

The former was arrested by the Union army in 1864 and imprisoned in Wheeling, West Virginia.

William Meredith resumed his duties as rector, and worked diligently to repair the parish's finances (drowning in red ink) and those of less fortunate Virginia congregations before his death on November 1, 1875.