Rededication of Memorials

Pursuant to vestry action, ten memorial plaques were removed from St. Paul’s worship space due to their Confederate imagery and association with Lost Cause ideology. Additionally, on Reconciliation Sunday, September 27, 2020, stained-glass windows dedicated in the late-1800s to Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis were rededicated to the glory of God. The removed plaques are available for viewing on Mondays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment. Fee for non-parishioners. Contact: Carter Johann or (804) 643-3589.

Robert Edward Lee (lower wall plaque)


Designer and fabricator unknown

Donated by sisters Annie Carter Stewart, Lucy Norma Stewart, and Elizabeth Hope Stewart (daughters of John Stewart, a founding member of St. Paul’s)

Dedicated November 1, 1892; Removed 2015

Description:
Brass, polychrome enamel, wood; 45 in. x 33 in. In the shape of a shield, with a large crimson crusader’s cross at center; Lee family coat-of-arms is in the upper left corner, and the Confederate battle flag is in the upper right corner. Inlaid into a wood support ornamented at each corner with a fleur-de-lis. Blue enameled lettering.

Inscription:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF /ROBERT EDWD LEE / COMMANDER OF / THE ARMY OF / NORTHERN VIRGINIA / AND CHRIST’S FAITHFUL / SOLDIER AND SERVANT / UNTO HIS LIFE’S END

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Robert Edward Lee (upper wall plaque)

Designer and fabricator unknown

Donated by sisters Annie Carter Stewart, Lucy Norma Stewart, and Elizabeth Hope Stewart (daughters of John Stewart, a founding member of St. Paul’s)

Dedicated November 1, 1892; Removed 2020

Description:
Brass, polychrome enamel, wood; 22 ½ in. x 21 in. Near-square brass plate incised with a tri-band black border punctuated by small fleur-de-lis and featuring a large red fleur-de-lis in each corner. Black and red enameled lettering. Inset into simple wood panel.

Inscription:
ROBERT EDWARD LEE / BORN AT STRATFORD / WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA / 19TH OF JANUARY / 1807 / DIED AT LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA / 12TH OF OCTOBER / 1870 / THIS MAN DIED LEAVING AN EXAMPLE / OF A NOBLE COURAGE AND A MEMORIAL / OF VIRTUE, NOT ONLY UNTO YOUNG / MEN, BUT UNTO ALL HIS NATION/ 2 MAC. VI. 31

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Jefferson Davis (wall plaque)

Designer and fabricator Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co.

Donated by general subscription

Dedicated Easter Sunday, April 17, 1898; Removed 2015

Description:
Bronze and brass, polychrome enamel; 39 in. x 27 in. (approx.). A tabernacle-style plaque that features, at center, various insignia of the Confederate States of America: the circular national seal before three flags—the first and third national banners flanking the battle flag. On each side are columns banded by brass ribbons, on which are engraved the names of the Confederate states in the order of their secession. Blue and red enameled lettering.

Inscription:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN / MEMORY OF JEFFERSON DAVIS / PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE / STATES OF AMERICA / BORN JUNE 3 1808 / DIED DECEMBER 6 1889

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Jefferson Davis (pew plaque)


Designer and fabricator unknown

Original silver

plate installed ca. 1899
Brass plate installed by the 1950s
Removed 2020

Description:
Brass plate description: 4 in. x 7 in. Modified shield shape.

Inscription:
PRESIDENT / JEFFERSON DAVIS / 1861 – 1865

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Robert Edward Lee (pew plaque)


Designer and fabricator unknown

Original plate installed ca. 1899
Brass plate installed by the 1950s
Removed 2020

Description:
Brass plate description: 4 in. x 7 in. Modified shield shape.

Inscription:
GENERAL / ROBERT E. LEE / 1861-1865

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Varina Anne “Winnie” Davis

Designed by George Julian Zolnay, New York; fabricated by Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co., New York

Donated by Arthur Ambrose Maginnis, New Orleans, La.

Dedicated November 8, 1899; Modified 2015; Removed 2020

Description:
bronze bas-relief; 62 ½ in. x 36 in. Tabernacle style with flanking fluted pilasters, arch pediment top and inscribed base. Profile bust portrait is featured at center, encircled with martyr’s palm fronds, books below, and a radiant Celtic cross above. Above in the arch tympanum is a winged cherub’s head. The bases of the pilasters originally featured elongated Confederate flags—the first national flag at left and a battle flag at right. In the base below are two family heraldic shields flanking a central inscription.

Inscription:
THE DAUGHTER OF THE CONFEDERACY / VARINA ANNE DAVIS / BORN JULY 27, 1864 / ENTERED INTO ETERNAL LIFE SEPT. 18, 1898 / “BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY / SHALL SEE GOD.

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Sons of Jefferson Davis (wall plaque)

Designer unknown, fabricated by Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co., New York

Donated by their sister, Margaret Howell Davis Hayes

Dedicated November 8, 1899; Removed 2020

Description:
Bronze; 21 in. x 18 in. Burnished lettering; bas-relief garland border with ribbons, topped with a winged cherub head.

Inscription:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE SONS / OF JEFFERSON DAVIS / SAMUEL EMORY DAVIS / BORN JULY 30, 1852 DIED JUNE 30, 1854 / JEFFERSON DAVIS JR / BORN JAN. 16, 1857 DIED OCT. 16, 1878 / JOSEPH EVAN DAVIS / BORN APRIL 18, 1859 DIED APRIL 30, 1864 / WILLIAM HOWELL DAVIS / BORN DEC. 6, 1861 DIED OCT. 16, 1872 / “OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” / ERECTED IN LOVING MEMORY BY THEIR SISTER / MARGARET HOWELL JEFFERSON DAVIS HAYES

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Mary Ragan Macgill (Mrs. Charles Macgill) and Sons (wall plaque)

Designed and fabricated by the Gorham Company, New York

Donated by daughter and sister, Mollie R. Macgill Rosenberg, Galveston, Tex.

Installed 1909; Removed 2020

Description:
Bronze; 57 in. x 30 ½ in. Neo-gothic pointed arch with burnished text, topped with ornamental tracery and a foliate cross flanked by rondels with winged angels’ heads.

Inscription:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY MOTHER / MRS MARY RAGAN MACGILL / BORN IN HAGERSTOWN, MD / JUNE 12TH, 1807 / DIED IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, MAR 10TH, 1897 / WIDOW OF / CHARLES MACGILL MD / “HER CHILDREN ARISE UP, AND CALL HER BLESSED” / AND / IN MEMORY OF MY BROTHERS / CHARLES G W MACGILL MD / BORN IN HAGERSTOWN, MD, MAY 10TH, 1833 / SURGEON IN STONEWALL BRIGADE, C.S.A. / DIED IN CATONSVILLE, BALTIMORE, MD, APRIL 28TH, 1907 / DAVIDGE MACGILL / BORN IN HAGERSTOWN, MD, AUG. 8TH, 1836 / PRIVATE IN CO. C. 1ST, MARYLAND CAVALRY, C.S.A. / DIED IN ROCKINGHAM CO., N.C. JULY 8TH, 1897 / FRANK MACGILL / BORN IN HAGERSTOWN, MD, SEPT 4TH, 1851 / DIED IN GALVESTON TEXAS, FEB. 17TH, 1900 / “MAKE THEM TO BE NUMBERED WITH THE SAINTS IN GLORY EVERLASTING.” / ERECTED BY / MOLLIE R MACGILL ROSENBERG / 1909

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Varina Banks Howell Davis (Mrs. Jefferson Davis)
(wall plaque)

Designed and fabricated by the Gorham Company, New York

Donated by subscription funds

Installed 1913; Modified 2015; Removed 2020

Description:
Bronze; 56 in. x 32 in. A classical tabernacle flanked by fluted Ionic pilasters; stylized pediment topped with an elaborate anthemion with acanthus scrolls, and an entablature ornamented with two palm fronds originally bearing a central shield bearing a Confederate battle-flag motif.

Inscription:
TO THE / GLORY OF GOD / AND /IN MEMORY OF / VARINA BANKS HOWELL / WIFE OF / JEFFERSON DAVIS / ONLY PRESIDENT / OF THE / CONFEDERATE STATES / OF AMERICA / BORN MAY 7 1826 DIED OCT 16 1906 / WHERE THOU DIEST, WILL I DIE AND THERE WILL / I BE BURIED. THE LORD DO SO TO ME, AND MORE / ALSO, IT OUGHT BUT DEATH PART THEE AND ME

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Confederate soldiers (wall plaque)

Design and fabrication attributed to the Gorham Company, New York

Anonymous donor

Dedicated Oct. 22, 1961; Removed 2015

Description:
Bronze, 43 in. x 33 in. approx. Rectangular plaque with Gothic-style burnished lettering, surrounded by a floriated border. At center of tri-step top is shield bearing a Confederate battle-flag motif overlapping laurel branches with berries.

Inscription:
TO THE / GLORY OF GOD / AND IN / EVERLASTING MEMORY / OF THOSE MEMBERS / OF THIS CONGREGATION / WHO SERVED LOYALLY / THE CONFEDERATE STATES / OF AMERICA / 1861-1865 / THIS TABLET IS ERECTED / AND DEDICATED / 1961

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Moses windows

Designer and fabricator Henry Holiday

Donated by sisters Annie Carter Stewart, Lucy Norma Stewart, and Elizabeth Hope Stewart (daughters of John Stewart, a founding member of St. Paul’s)

Dedicated November 1, 1892; Rededicated September, 27, 2020

Description:
Lower window – Moses leaving the court of Pharoah.
Upper window – Moses on Mount Nebo

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Paul windows

Designer Frederic Wilson; Fabricator Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co.

Donated by general subscription

Dedicated Easter Sunday, April 17, 1898; Rededicated September 27, 2020

Description:
Lower window – Paul, in chains, brought before King Herod Agrippa.
Upper window – the “Angels of Goodness and Mercy”

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