Recently, I received a file box labeled "St Peter’s" from Cookie that was compiled by Jim Patton. Patton died in November 2007 and for many years was the owner of Gay Mont through his wife’s connection to the Bernard family.
A native of Bridgeville, Pa., he moved to Washington, D.C., in 1941 to take a clerical position with the Naval Ordnance Laboratory . At the close of World War II, he served for a short period in the Army of Occupation in Japan. He retired in 1981 after 36 years as financial secretary/business manager of the New York A venue Presbyterian Church, and lived for many years in Alexandria. He was married to Frances Bernard Upton, whose family owned Gay Mont since the 1790s.
Patton worked closely with Ralph Fall’s work on Hidden Village, the history about Port Royal. Fall wanted to name Patton as co-author but Patton refused.
While Patton was a Presbyterian he worshipped at St. Peter’s due to his wife’s Episcopalian connections. He is responsible for saving many of St. Peter’s early records by sending them to the Library of Virginia where they are now viewable at microfile for all to see.
The file received has folders on the many priests at St. Peter’s, a folder on membership, correspondence with Ralph Fall after his time at St. Peter’s and one on pictures. The one on pictures is the subject of this article. I have divided them into outside and inside pictures.
The inside pictures, include here, are the interior of St. Peter’s from the 1971-1996.
A couple of things to notice :
1. Prior to 1978 – no chandelier (1st picture, 1971)
2. No plaque back wall (1st picture, 1971)
3. Lecturns inside the railing (2nd picture, 1971)
4. Altar not pushed out (3rd picture, 1971)
5. No top spotlights (4th picture 1971)
6. A different piano (4th picture, 1971)
7. Electric candles(?), 1979
8. 1983 – no piano
9. 1991 – back pew not filled ?
10.No paschal candle in the Dec. pictures
11. Flower tables not present
1971, photograph Ralph Fall
1971, photograph Ralph Fall
1971, photograph Ralph Fall
1971, photograph Ralph Fall
1973, photograph Frank Delano
1979
1979
1979
1983
1983
1983
1991
1991
1991
1991
1991
1991
1996
1996
1996
1996
1996
1996