Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2012 Issue | Page 26

IF WALLS COULD TALK

Native American Ministry Team partners with Rappahannock tribe
EMILY CHERRY
Situated west of Tappahannock on land owned by the Rappahannock Indian Tribe sits a small
church building with a rich past. Constructed in 1921 to house an African American Episcopal
congregation, St. Mark’s, Beazley was established by the Rev. John Scott, an African
American priest who worked extensively with local mission churches. St. Mark’s continued
on as an Episcopal congregation until around 1959.

But that wasn’t the
end of this building’s story
as a church home. The local
Rappahannock tribe later
purchased the building for
use as a worship space for
the Rappahannock Indian
Baptist Church. But after
the congregation moved
to a newer and larger brick
structure, the historic
building fell into disrepair.

Today, members of the
tribe are partnering with the Diocese of Virginia to restore
and preserve the historic building.

The project is part of the work of the diocesan
Native American Ministry Team, a group of people from
across the Diocese who work to build partnerships and
promote fellowship with Native American tribes. Building
relationships with Native American tribes has long been an
area of passion for Virginia churches, many of whom have
traveled to