Near Gordonsville in Orange County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Church of the Blind Preacher

Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

1. Church of the Blind Preacher Marker

Inscription. Near here was the church of James Waddel, the blind Presbyterian preacher. Waddel, who had been a minister in the Northern Neck and elsewhere, came here about 1785 and died here in 1805. William Wirt, stopping in 1803 to hear a sermon, was impressed by Waddel's eloquence. He made it the subject of a classic essay.

Erected 1929 by Conservation & Development Commission. (Marker Number F-23.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1785.

Location. 38° 8.865′ N, 78° 10.826′ W. Marker is near Gordonsville, Virginia, in Orange County. It is on James Madison Highway (U.S. 15), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gordonsville VA 22942, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Virginia

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gordon Inn (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Maplewood Memorial Association (approx. one mile away); Welcome to The Exchange Hotel and Civil War Medical Museum (approx. 1.1 miles away); Gordonsville's Legendary Chicken Vendors (approx. 1.1 miles away); In Memory of the Soldiers, Both Confederate and Union

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(approx. 1.1 miles away); Orange County / Louisa County (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Orange County / Louisa County (approx. 1.8 miles away); Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gordonsville.

Also see . . . James Waddel. Short biographical entry. (Submitted on January 16, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

2. Church of the Blind Preacher Marker

Waddel Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

3. Waddel Monument

Near this spot
while yet primeval forest
stood the church of
the blind preacher
James Waddel
a devout man of god and a faithful
minister of the presbyterian church
Born 1739- Died 1805
Socrates died like a philosopher but
Jesus Christ like a God. From his sermon
as narrated by William Wirt.

Marker and Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

4. Marker and Monument

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 6,400 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 16, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.