Historic Virginia Church Repairs Sanctuary Quake Damage

The sanctuary of a 198-year-old Culpeper, Va., church has reopened almost a year after it was damaged by a magnitude 5.8-earthquake.

The Culpeper Star Exponent says the congregation at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church held a rededication ceremony for the sanctuary on Sunday.

The Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake caused about $500,000 total damage to the church, including the sanctuary’s walls and stained glass windows.

St. Stephen’s will celebrate its 200th anniversary in November 2014.