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To resource rural churches of all denominations, to develop greater understanding and mutual support between rural and urban church communities and between different faith groups to assist in spreading the Word, and to support outreach by our churches into our communities to those in hardship or distress.
St. George’s Episcopal Church congregation was founded on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia in 1636. In 1736, the congregation built a second church in a cruciform shape of brick. It was one of the most splendid structures of Colonial Virginia. A similar church of the same era, directly West across the Chesapeake Bay, has survived undamaged and can be viewed at this link: https://christchurch1735.org/virtual-tour/
As one of the oldest churches in the US, its reconstruction after the Civil War destruction by the Union Army stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and faith. The destruction included all records of the church and left only one original wall standing. It took 25 years for the congregation to gather the funds and complete construction. Services did not stop, they continued in the homes and businesses over those years. In the mid-1960s, the church was lovingly remodeled to conform to the style of its time, using historic Colonial Williamsburg as the model.
Now, in 2025, planning has started for the next upgrade of the church. Recognizing its upcoming 300-year milestone, the young team of ESM put their expertise in aerial drones to image the church exterior and interior in great detail. They also incorporated the creation of 3D models of the church.
These visual products made communication about conditions and planned next steps between members of the congregation, vestry, and the facilities team simple and straightforward. After completing this initial work, we saw an opportunity to help other churches document their buildings in order to provide supporting data for planning long-term care.
ESM, LLC serves both the spiritual and practical needs of the Christian community through a program that supports congregations with the management of their church facilities used for worship, community, and social projects. ESM can also assist with resourcing and training.
We are members of an ancient United States church in a rural community. We have a particular interest in the support of rural churches and growing a network of communal support among them that reaches out across geography and denominations.