Union Church and Cemetery 🇺🇸

Step into Virginia's rich history at the Union Church and Cemetery, a captivating historic site in Falmouth, Stafford County. When you visit, you'll discover a location steeped in heritage, containing the archaeological sites of early Falmouth Anglican churches dating back to 1733 and the 1750s. The main structural focus is the standing remains of the Union Church, built around 1819 in the classic Federal style.

Although a violent rainstorm in 1950 severely damaged the 40-foot by 54-foot building and caused the nave and chancel to collapse, the 10-foot by 40-foot narthex remains intact for you to admire. Inside this surviving section, you can see the original stairway leading to the balcony, alongside historic structural framing that extends upward to form a belfry holding an estimated 300-pound bell. Beyond the church structure, wander through the serene on-site cemetery, where you will find historic headstones spanning from the 18th and early 19th centuries all the way through the 20th century.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2008, this site offers you an honest, tangible connection to centuries of local American history.

What to see at Union Church and Cemetery

• Intact Federal style narthex built around 1819
• Original balcony stairway and framing leading to the belfry
• An estimated 300-pound bell housed in the standing belfry
• Cemetery with headstones spanning the 18th through 20th centuries
• Archaeological sites of Anglican churches from 1733 and the 1750s

Visiting tips

Take time to carefully read the historic headstones in the cemetery to trace centuries of local history.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Union Church and Cemetery is easy to reach on Fredericksburg’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg and St. George's Episcopal Church. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Fredericksburg travel guide.