Episcopal Church Of The Epiphany – 781 Main Street (formerly 777)
Reproduced with permission from Victorian Danville – Fifty-Two Landmarks: Their Architecture and History © 1977
Built between 1879 and 1881, the Church of the Epiphany is rated Danville’s most outstanding structure in the city’s Architectural Inventory.
This fine stuccoed Gothic Revival church presents a gable end front to the street with a corner tower that rises in three levels, as defined by the insets of the buttressing and the openings, to a slender octagonal spire. All windows and doors use the lancet arch, and the nave windows alternate between buttressing. The simple sturdiness of the design and interesting play of shadow upon its white surface make it a notable addition to Main Street.
The church follows much of the Gothic design of the original wood church erected in 1844 on the same lot on the corner of Main and Jefferson streets and pulled down for the present structure. It was the older church in which President Jefferson Davis worshipped during the day’s Danville served as the last capital of the Confederacy.
The church standing today was built by Thomas B. Fitzgerald, one of Danville’s outstanding contractors of the late nineteenth century. His architectural art, it has been said, was only surpassed by his business acumen, for he was one of the founders of Dan River Mills and its first president.
The congregation of the Episcopal Church in Danville, a member of the Camden Parish, was founded in 1840 by Dr. George Washington Dame, who was in the early part of his career, both rector of the church and principal of the Danville Female Academy which occupied the lot just down Jefferson on the corner of Loyal Street where now stands the old Danville General Hospital used today as apartments [ed: now demolished]. Dr. Dame served as rector of the church and of Camden Parish until 1895. He was an active Mason and his personal memoirs and history of the Masonic Lodge reflect much of the early history of our city.
Inside, the nave contains many beautiful memorials of brass and wood carving and fine stained-glass windows. The chancel window known as the “Great Window” is in memory of Dr. Dame. Under this window is the holy table presented by Mrs. Sarah E. Shepherd in memory of her parents, Captain John Noble and Frances E. Noble, early settlers in Danville. Mrs. Shepherd, her mother, Mrs. Noble, Mrs. George Welsh, and Mrs. Susan D. Poindexter were the four original members of the church organized by Dr. Dame.
The original dove window over the chancel and the organ placed in the church in 1880 are now in the Christ Episcopal Church in Glenwood. In 1927 Epiphany installed a new Skinner organ which is still in use.
In the narthex is a marble tablet in memory of William Ambrose Brown, a member since his youth who became Bishop of the Diocese pf Southern Virginia. He was the son of H. W. Brown, Danville florist.
In the rear of the church facing Jefferson Street [ed: now Jefferson avenue] is the Parish house built in 1956, replacing the old parish house and rectory. It was the last job of the late C. M. Weber, local contractor, before his retirement. Its arched windows, buttresses, color, and material tastefully follow the design of the church building.
The iron fence surrounding the church yard is original and was bought with funds raised by ice cream socials given by the ladies of the church.
The bell in the tower pre-dates the church. The bell from the first church was given to the Confederacy as metal for cannons. Sometime in 1866 or 67 a second larger bell was installed. Church history relates its cost was subscribed when someone in a group gathered at a local tobacco warehouse sale mentioned the fact Epiphany had no bell. When the old church was pulled down in 1879 this bell was placed in the tower of the new structure and still calls the congregation to worship today. MC
