Where did Robert E. Lee go to church?

Answer 1

Lee was an Episcopalian, brought up in that religion, though he was not confirmed in that Church until he was 46. Little is known of Lee's childhood, but he lived his early years on a family plantation until the property was lost due to his father's business failings. The family probably attended the nearest Episcopal Church. After the farm was gone the family moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and no doubt attended the same denomination there. Lee however spent several years at boarding schools, which in that era all had compulsory chapel attendance. Chapel was also mandatory at West Point where Lee was a cadet from 1825-29, and there was an influential Episcopal clergyman. Lee's adult life was spent as an Army officer at many remote Army posts, and he and his family likely attended any church available. During the Civil War Lee frequently attended St. James Episcopal Church in Richmond (Reverend Dr. Peterkin), still standing on the corner of 5th and Marshall in Richmond, and also sometimes at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which still stands on Grace Street in Richmond, Virginia. Confederate President Jefferson Davis was also a faithful attendee at St. Paul's, which is directly across the street from the Virginia capitol. Both Lee and Dais were in the congregation on Sunday, April 1, 1865, when word was brought to Lee that disaster had come to his Army at Five Forks, leading to the evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg the next day and Lee's surrender eight days later. Returning to Richmond after the surrender Lee continued to attend at St. Paul's in the summer of 1865. There is a fairly well known incident that occurred one Sunday. In the back of the church was a railed off area, behind which the slaves of the well-to-do families who made up much of the congregation had been accommodated for services. When the Reverend Dr. Charles Minnigerode called for those who wished to take communion, an elderly black man made his way forward and knelt at the altar rail. This was shocking to the white congregants, as communion had always been an all-white ceremony at St. Paul's. For a time no one quite knew what to do, then another elderly man rose and went and knelt with the old black man. It was, of course, General Lee. At the end of that summer Lee took the position offered him of President of tiny Washington College, in Lexington, Virginia. The school had been devastated by the war, but Lee's prestige and able leadership soon had it flourishing. The College trustees built a house on campus for their new President and his family, then built a new chapel. Lee, the College President, made his office in a basement room of this new chapel. His office is preserved today just as he left it when he went back to his home after his last day at work, and Lee's tomb is on the other side of the basement (his horse, Traveler, is buried out back). The College today is Washington and Lee University.

Answer 2

Robert E. Lee was a Methodist. Stonewall Jackson was a Presbyterian.