Located among Civil War historic sites — and eight miles from the franchise that invented Chick-fil-A sauce — St. Patrick Church in Fredericksburg is steeped in history.
The church, one of eight Holy Year 2025 pilgrimage sites, borders the Chancellorsville Battlefield park, which is recognized by the National Park Service. “It’s always going to be a kind of natural, peaceful atmosphere,” said Father John A. Ziegler, pastor.
The Union Army originally camped on the 17.8-acre grounds during the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. Military chaplain Father William Corby even celebrated Mass for Union soldiers on the parish grounds. Eventually, the land came into possession of the Pruitt family. They donated it to the Arlington diocese so a church could be built there, according to Father Ziegler. The parish’s first church was dedicated in 1983.
The newer, larger church was dedicated in 2021. It features sage green walls, a hand-carved crucifix, a wooden communion rail and two side shrines nearly overflowing with relics of the saints.
The parish recently installed the final six of its intricate stained-glass windows. Created by Conrad Schmitt Studios, the windows feature St. Gemma, the Annunciation, Blessed Solanus Casey and St. Teresa of Kolkata, to name a few. One stained-glass window of St. John Paul II features him holding a rosary, as well as the bullet that pierced him in the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt. Another window featuring St. Maximilian Kolbe paints a somber scene — St. Maximilian holding the uniform of a concentration camp prisoner and the crowns of purity and martyrdom, as smoke from a crematorium billows in the background.
Adjacent to the main church is the original 1983 church, which was converted into a parish hall after the construction of the new church. Across the parking lot and near the rectory, pilgrims will find a small patio with a statue of Mary surrounded by children. The statue, “Our Lady and the Unborn Children,” dedicated in 2005, serves as a refuge for expectant parents or parents who have suffered a miscarriage.
For local activities, one need only step outside the church to encounter a wealth of Civil War history. While lesser known than the adjacent site of the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Chancellorsville Battlefield — a five-minute drive from the church — offers something for academics and nature lovers alike. Enthusiasts of the National Park Passport may stamp their booklets in the visitor’s center, which also hosts an extensive museum. Literature lovers may be intrigued to learn that the Battle of Chancellorsville inspired Stephen Crane’s novel “The Red Badge of Courage,” used in many literature curricula today. Nature enthusiasts may enjoy a hike on the 3.6-mile “History Loop,” with the trailhead located right next to the center’s parking lot.
Stay cool in the car for a driving tour around the battlefield, starting at the visitor’s center. The National Park Service offers an online audio component for the tour, explaining the significance of each site along the route.
Once pilgrims have had their fill of Civil War history, take a quick drive down to El Gran Charro in Fredericksburg, a Mexican restaurant serving steaming plates of fajitas, enchiladas, street tacos, with complimentary chips and salsa, naturally. Or, Chick-fil-A fans may visit the franchise that created the company’s famous Chick-fil-A Sauce, a 20-minute drive from St. Patrick at the Spotsylvania Towne Centre.
For a post-lunch sweet treat, the nearby Battlefield Country Store has an ice cream shop attached to a general store, which offers a sub-sandwich shop and a coffee bar. Whether you’re craving a single scoop or an elaborate milkshake topped with a cookie, the country store will satisfy any sugar craving.
Amid the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia, St. Patrick’s provides an oasis for the Holy Year pilgrim.
“It’s one of the most beautiful of all the pilgrimage churches, and it’s very peaceful,” Father Ziegler said. “I think (pilgrims) would be truly inspired to see a church built to the glory of God.”
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For a sneak peek of St. Patrick Church and local sites, go to bit.ly/4kVnUcg.
