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"These bells are dedicated to the men of this countryside who, by the skill of their hands, have built this church." Although the great bell bearing that dedication was cast in England, the inscription indeed rings true. Local stonecutters, masons and carpenters created everything except a few details. In the tradition of medieval craftsmen, they made their own stonecutting tools at a forge on the property and fashioned every piece of stone and wood in the complex.

The sandstone itself came from nearby Warrenton, Virginia. Even the portrayal of plants carved into the pew ends are native to the countryside. Sculptor Heinz Warneke, who served as head of the Corcoran Gallery of Art's Department on Sculputre, also carved the figures of great preachers on the pulpit and the symbolic creatures on the arch columns. Ironworker Paul Fiebiger created objects of beauty ranging from intricate chandeliers and grills to the simplest bolts and nails of the doors. Particularly noteworthy are the "Peace Angels" that Fiebiger incorporated into the tower lantern. They were created in 1280 for a church near Dresden, Germany.

The design of architect H. Page Cross reflects the style of certain French country churches of the twelfth and thirteenth century. The present church is the third building on the site, the first having been built in 1842 and the second in 1895. The windows in the south transept came from the previous church building, and those in the north transept were made to match.

Text © 1998 Terry White, Drawing © 1998 Bill Harrah