R. E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church and Rectory, cabinet card, snapshot and copy print photos, 1890/1930

Containers:

Box 10, Folder 26

Scope and content:

The photos in this folder are as follows:

A circa 1899-1902 cabinet card photo of the front fiew of the Church, showing a dirt street with stepping stones.

A circa 1930 west side view copy print photo of the Church, taken from the W&L campus.

A circa 1930 printed flyer of a color photo of the front view of the Church, taken in the Fall.

A circa 1930 snapshot of the R. E. Memorial Episcopal Church Rectory.

Biographical / historical:

The original Grace Episcopal Church building, a smaller church structure was completely torn down in 1881 so that the current, much larger stone Gothic Revival sanctuary could be built on the exact same footprint. In 1903 to honor the former general's extensive service to the congregation and local universities, the church was renamed R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church. In 2017, following years of internal dialogue regarding the legacy of Confederate memorialization, which intensified after national protests, the church vestry voted 7–5 on September 18, 2017, to officially drop the memorial name. It became Grace Episcopal Church again.

The R. E. Lee memorial episcopal church rectory is located at 107 Lee Avenue in Lexington, Virginia. The home was built across a three-year span, 1821-1824 for Charles P. Dorman, a prominent Lexington attorney. The home was purchased by the church in 1854 to serve as its official parsonage/rectory. The rectory's most famous historical occupant was the Reverend William Nelson Pendleton. Pendleton, a West Point graduate, served as Robert E. Lee's Chief of Artillery during the Civil War before returning to Lexington to lead the parish for three decades. During his tenure, Robert E. Lee served closely alongside him on the church vestry. The building continuously served the parish for nearly 150 years until the late 20th century. Today, the preserved structure remains standing and is occupied as a private family residence.

Access and use