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Shrine Mont’s Centennial Year: 2025

On August 6, 1925 Bishop William Cabell Brown consecrated the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration in Orkney Springs, VA as the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and began the journey for what we now know and love as Shrine Mont.

In the coming months Shrine Mont will mark our centennial anniversary with several events in the diocese and at Shrine Mont with the culmination of the celebration of 100 years on August 6, 2025.

This page is a resource for Shrine Mont friends to learn about Shrine Mont’s history, our plans for celebration and information about a fundraising campaign to lay the foundation for Shrine Mont’s future.  We encourage you to peruse this site and bookmark it for future reference as it will be updated frequently.  We also ask that you look at the feasibility study and draft case statement for a capital campaign for Shrine Mont’s future and fill out the accompanying survey and questionnaire.  Please share this page with your friends and family so all can be part if this wonderful event.

Quicklinks: Timeline | Events | Campaign

Shrine Mont Timeline

1922
Dr. and Mrs. Woodward purchased “Tanglewood Cottage” now known as Gibson Cottage.
1922
The Rectory was constructed from logs cut on the property
1925
The Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration consecrated on August 6th.
1927
The Rt. Rev. Henry St. George Tucker became the 8th Bishop of Virginia.
1927
Dedication of Peterkin Cottage
1930
1930–1931: Goodwin Cottage, Shelter Chapel, Crenshaw Lodge built
1932
Meade Cottage built from Icehouse
1934
The Cross and Observation Tower built
1934
1934–1937: Dining Room and Brown Hall completed
1936
Excavation and reconstruction work around the chalybeate, Orkney Spring
1936
Sanctuary of Shelter Chapel dedicated as memorial to W. Minor Woodward and Mary Stewart Woodward
1936
Miller Cabin completed
1937
Lloyd Hall built
1938
Dedication of Brown Hall by Bishop Tucker on July 14th
1938
St. Andrew’s completed
1940
Art Hall was dedicated to the memory of the American artist, John Douglas Woodward
1941
Scott and Harrison Cottages were purchased
1943
Drake Cottage was purchased
1944
The Rt. Rev. Frederick Deane Goodwin became the 9th Bishop of Virginia
1946
Bird Cage was built
1948
Death of Edmund Lee Woodward on Feb. 2nd
1948
The Rev. Francis Tyndall was appointed temporary chaplain and director of Shrine Mont. Wilmer Moomaw was appointed manager of Shrine Mont
1949
Warner Cottage was purchased
1950
Wilmer Moomaw was named Director of Shrine Mont
1954
Atkeson Cottage was purchased
1955
Rec Hall was built
1960
Dorms and a new kitchen and dining hall were completed; Start of St. George’s Camp began meeting in tents
1961
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Fisher Gibson, Jr. became the 10th Bishop of Virginia
1962
St. George’s facilities used for the first time
1963
Staff House was built
1964
Woodward House built in honor and memory of The Rev. Edmund L. Woodward and his wife. It is used as the permanent residence of Shrine Mont’s Executive Director
1973
Dick Moomaw named Shrine Mont Assistant Director
1974
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Bruce Hall became the 11th Bishop of Virginia
1974
The new Infirmary was built
1975
Dedication of Chilton Hall on August 6th
1975
Shrine Mont acquired Stribling Cottage upon the death of Miss Lucy Kimball
1975
Shrine Mont acquired Derossi cottage
1979
Shrine Mont buys Orkney Springs Hotel buildings and property including the Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania Houses, Vienna, Lexington, Washington, Williamsburg, Alexandria, Richmond, Fairfax, Arlington, and Norfolk cottages
1985
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee became the 12th Bishop of Virginia
1985
5 phase renovation of the Virginia House begins
1988
Wilmer Moomaw retires. Dick Moomaw is named Executive Director and John Moomaw is named Assistant Director
1993
Renovations began on Maryland House and finished in the spring of 1994
1995
Box Hill and Box Hill Cabin were purchased
1999
New Camp (later named Woodward Camp), located behind Bear Wallow Spring was dedicated
2003
The large, modern, zero-grade entry swimming pool was installed
2004
Portlock and Stidley Cottage were purchased
2006
Dick and John Moomaw retire from Shrine Mont
2007
Kevin Moomaw becomes Executive Director of Shrine Mont
2009
The Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston became the 13th Bishop of Virginia
2009
Staff House renovated and renamed Hillside Cottage
2012
St. Andrews Cottage was demolished and re-rebuilt as a year-round cottage
2014
2014–2017: The Shout It From the Mountain capital campaign for Shrine Mont Camps surpasses $2.5 million “stretch” goal
2016
Churchill Staff House was built at Bear Wallow camp and dedicated in memory of The Rev. Churchill J. Gibson, Jr.
2017
Meade Cottage is renovated and expanded, and becomes another year-round cottage
2018
Vienna Cottage is renovated and expanded for the camp staff HQ and year-round rentals
2018
The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff is designated Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Virginia
2021
Shrine Mont dormitory renovated into 5 small units and becomes another year-round rental renamed Spring Mountain Lodge
2022
The Rt. Rev’d. Mark Stevenson elected the 14th Bishop of Virginia

A Year of Celebration

Events in 2025

The Future of Shrine Mont

The Centennial Campaign

As we celebrate our centennial, we’re exploring ways to preserve and improve the Shrine Mont experience for all. This draft case statement and questionnaire are being distributed to discuss ideas and gauge interest. Please review them and let us know what you think about the plans!

All funds raised in any campaign will go to Shrine Mont.

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Contact Us

Shrine Mont, Inc.
217 Shrine Mont Circle
PO Box 10
Orkney Springs, Virginia 22845, US

540.856.2141
8am to 4pm Monday – Friday

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