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This poor eastern copperhead was brought in yesterday after the homeowner found the snake stuck in some mesh garden netting.

Knowing that without proper care this situation could become dire for the snake, this person trimmed around a large portion of the mesh to be able to safely transport them to us for safe and careful removal.

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Despite being through this entire ordeal, this snake was calm and relatively amenable to being handled with a snake hook and tube for our staff’s safety.

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Thankfully, the mesh was easily trimmed away and while there was some swelling where the mesh had been twisted tightly around the body of the snake, there were no lacerations or injuries.

After a short monitoring period to make sure there were no other issues or concerns, this gorgeous snake was released back home where they were found!

We’re so thankful for these caring finders to not only care enough to get this snake help, but allow this snake to be returned back home where they belong.

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ALL snakes are deserving of respect, dignity, and care, including venomous ones.

These snakes want nothing more to do with us than most of us want to do with them, and they fill an incredibly important role in the ecosystem. Just because you are afraid or don’t understand an animal, does not give you the right to harm them, and oftentimes more people are bitten when attempting to do so.

If you find a snake you believe is in need, give us or your nearest wildlife rehabilitator a call for information on how best to address your unique situation to keep both the snake AND you safe!

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Looking for an easy way to help native wildlife? Become a monthly BRWC donor! For as little as $5/month, you can provide year-round, sustainable support that helps us fulfill our mission.

Father of Deceased One-Year-Old Admitted to Choking Son Because Child ‘Was Not Listening’ Before Leaving Scene

Tragic details surrounding the death of a one-year-old child in the Town of Front Royal, Virginia, on September 18 are detailed in the Criminal Complaint attached to the Second Degree Murder Warrant against the child’s 24-year-old father, Nathaniel Lee Edmonds.

Edmonds was located on foot on Route 522 North at Fairgrounds Road by Warren County Sheriff’s Office units assisting Front Royal Police Department investigators the day of the child’s death. The search for Edmonds had proceeded northward based on cell phone information from the child’s mother mid-afternoon on Wednesday, September 18, at the residential scene where the couple live on the 300 block of North Royal Avenue in town.

The mother told authorities that Edmonds was supposed to be watching their child while she was at work. According to a press release by FRPD issued the afternoon of September 24, when the child’s mother returned home the afternoon of September 18th, she found her child alone in the condition in which emergency response units found the child upon their arrival. That condition was described as cardiac arrest.

The child was transported by Emergency Medical Service first responders, already present when FRPD arrived on the scene, to Warren Memorial Hospital, where, despite resuscitation efforts, the child was pronounced deceased.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Bk3UG_0vj5NAlI00 — Nathaniel Edmonds after his booking on a Second Degree Murder charge related to his child’s death Wednesday, Sept. 18, in Front Royal. Photo RSW.

The Criminal Complaint describes FRPD’s interaction with Edmonds leading to the Second Degree Murder charge filed the evening of September 18th following consultation with the Warren County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office:

“Edmonds was detained and brought in for an interview. Edmonds was read his Miranda Rights and confessed to choking his one-year-old, using both of his hands for minutes because the child was not listening and he couldn’t take it anymore.”

The complaint signed by FRPD Detective T.A. Smith continues to add, “Edmonds describes that this incident happened on the child’s bed where he was ultimately found. Edmonds admitted to observing foam at the mouth on the child.”

Following an initial hearing on September 19, Edmonds is being held at RSW Regional Jail in northern Warren County without bond. A second hearing was originally scheduled for the morning docket on October 17 but has been canceled. A second hearing is currently scheduled for December 19 at 9:45 a.m.

Locust Grove Cemetery honors African American Ancestors

On April 8, 1880, a meeting of the Stephens City (then Newtown/Stephensburg) Town Council was held. On motion of Captain George A. Grove, a grant of one-half acre of ground on the western side of the Village on what is known as Academy Hill was made to the African American people as a burial place. The burial ground would later be named Locust Grove Cemetery.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0OIuEQ_0vj5NAlI00 — Locust Grove Cemetery, established in 1880, is an active burial ground where old headstones worn down by time and the elements share space with newer headstones.

The one-half acre grant was recorded by the Frederick County circuit court clerk in Deed Book 96, pages 147-148. A summary of the entry is provided.

Whereas the mayor and councilmen of the town of Newtown/Stephensburg, Frederick County Virginia being desirous to provide a cemetery or burying ground for the use of the colored people of the said town and the vicinity. Whereas at a town meeting of the colored people of the said town the following named persons were appointed trustees to whom the said burying ground should be granted and conveyed to be held by them in trust for the purposes and uses of aforesaid namely Robert Turner, George Harris, Euro Wormley, Robert Robertson, Allen Robertson, Daniel Winesberry, Thomas Hottel, and Enoch Jenkins. Therefore, this deed made and entered by the mayor and councilmen of said town of the one part and the said Robert Turner and other trustees as aforesaid of the other part and dated this tenth day of September 1880.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3aEpiy_0vj5NAlI00 — American Flag flies on early August morning at Locust Grove Cemetery in Stephens City. Eight Armed Services Veterans are buried here.

The land constituted a part of the town commons and was bounded as follows on the north by Locust Street, on the east by the commons of the town, on the south by the town commons, and on the west side by West Street and opposite to John Hoover’s lot. The land was transferred for the payment sum of one dollar.

The plot of land was originally referred to as a Colored peoples cemetery on D. J. Lake & Co. map in in 1885. How it received the name Locust Grove is not known. Some say because the property lies at the intersection of Locust and Grove Streets. But Grove Street was called West Street in 1880. Byron Smith, Executive Director & Curator of the Stone House Foundation, believes the road name was changed to Grove Street when M. J. Grove Lime Company began business here in 1902, with six kilns in operation. Others believe the land was called Locust Grove for the stand of Locust Trees that covered the property.

Many African American families living during the Antebellum South period are buried here. Addison, Armistead, Avery, Baker, Ball, Barber, Berger, Best, Boyd, Brown, Cambell, Cash, Corley, Curry, Day, Doleman, Dorman, Ford, Gaither, Gant, Harris, Hill, Holness, Holtz, Huddle, Humbert, Jackson, Johnson, Lewis, Long, Martin, Mason, Medley, Minifield, Nickens, Oaks, Peyton, Phoenix, Pines, Rhodes, Roberts, Robinson, Shields, Splawn, Stern, Taper, Tokes, Trent, Turner, Walker, Wallace, Wanzer, Washington, Willett, Williams, Willis and Wilson.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Nez0S_0vj5NAlI00 — Splawn Family Plot. Wrought iron fence encloses grave sites from 1900 to 1949.

The first known written record referring to Locust Grove can be found in the Winchester Evening Star, dated February 28, 1903, Page 1. John W. Tokes of Opequon, Frederick County was buried at Locust Grove Cemetery. Stephens City. The Funeral Directors were Funk & Ray, Rev. B. J. Layton officiating.

So, why did the Stephens City Town Council grant one-half acre for the purposes of establishing a cemetery for African Americans? The Council was aware that Middletown’s founder, Peter Senseney, deeded a one-acre lot in 1801 for a meeting house and burial place for “people of the African race” living in the Middletown area. Peter Senseney is not believed to have owned slaves. The Mt. Zion Cemetery was in operation from 1801-1954.

The Council could have been influenced by Rev. Robert Orrick, a man of impressive appearance and magnetism who became a noted minister, evangelist, prosperous businessman. Beginning in the 1860s, Rev. Orrick preached in African-American Methodist churches throughout the Winchester area, always filling the pulpits.

After the Civil War, Rev. Orrick was one of the leading African American businessmen in the greater Winchester area. He was a major contributor to building a new church for African Americans in Stephens City. The church was built between 1866 and 1869 on Mulberry Street largely through the efforts and generosity of Rev. Orrick who donated and hauled the construction materials to the site. In recognition of his contributions, the church was named Orrick Chapel.

Beginning in the 1870s, Orrick wanted to establish a cemetery for African American families which was not an open common pauper’s field where strangers and criminals were buried, and cattle freely grazed. He believed industrious and enterprising African American citizens should establish and maintain a cemetery where their families could be buried and continue to be a proper burial place to bequeath to their children.

The Locust Grove area might have been a pauper’s field where free Blacks and slaves were buried. Orrick could have convinced the town councilman to donate a half-acre to African American trustees to manage the property as their own cemetery.

Frederick County court records reflect that Stephens City Town Council transferred a second half-acre in a supplemental deed to seven new trustees on September 15, 1923 (George Harris, Gus Boyd, Henry Dorman, Isaac Avery, R. A. Robinson, Lathan Williams, and Andrew Wanzer) to increase the size of the Locust Grove Cemetery. The sum of $300 was paid by the trustees.

Like Green Hill Cemetery, across Martin Street, African Americans owned and maintained family burial plots. Winchester Evening Star brief, dated October 15, 1954, Page 5, cites Eldridge F. Wanzer was buried in the family lot in Locust Grove Cemetery. The service was held at Orrick Chapel Methodist Church, Rev. Odell Carr, pastor, and officiating.

Rick Kriebel, Manager of Collections & Programs of the Stone House Foundation, includes a mid-20th century description of Locust Grove Cemetery in his 2023 Guided History Trolley Tour. Some of the information is summarized as follows. During the 1950s, there was a dirt road around the cemetery, and a dirt drive running through it. There was a steeper slope from the road to the actual burial ground which made it difficult for the elderly to traverse the gravesites. The African American community gathered at the cemetery once a year to provide their labor and capital to clean, clear, make level, and restore the burial grounds.

May 1985

In 1985, the cemetery was in disrepair with volunteer custodians mowing the grass around the graves. Gravestones leaned, some were sunk in the ground and others fallen over. Vandals, time, and overgrown vegetation had also taken their toll on the cemetery. No fence surrounded the grounds at that time. All the former trustees from 1923 were presumed dead and no new trustees were ever recorded at the town office or with the Frederick County circuit court clerk.

A few town residents like Jessie Curry and Anna L. Wanzer began taking an interest in revitalizing the historic cemetery. Their uncles were trustees and several of their relatives were buried here. Curry, Richard Medley, and Charles Corley all would take turns cutting the grass and trimming the weeds.

Residents of Stephens City with relatives buried in the cemetery wanted to do more than mow the gravesites. The group of Wanzer, Curry, Medley, Corley, John Shields III, Charles Richard Berger, Jackie Cain, and Lawrence Williams wanted to become the new cemetery trustees. They were motivated to ensure that the cemetery was managed and maintained in a dignified manner.

When land has been conveyed as a cemetery, a state statute allows any ten residents within a jurisdiction to approach the circuit court to be named trustees.

Money was raised to build a proposed fence and landscape the cemetery. The congregation of Orrick Chapel took up a collection of $500. Besides the improvements, Curry said that once the trustees were officially installed, a plan for administering the land should be developed with consideration for charging fees for any future burials. The money would be used for the cemetery’s upkeep. As it was then, burials were free and virtually unrestricted.

June 1994

The nonprofit Locust Grove Cemetery Inc. was founded June 30, 1994. Anna L. Wanzer’s labor was instrumental in obtaining incorporation. The organization was established with a charter to protect, restore, preserve, and maintain the burial grounds. The board members strove to establish the importance of maintaining Locust Grove as a memorial to African-American families that not only lived, worked, prospered, and died in the Stephens City, but were also connected by bloodlines.

The cemetery provided physical evidence of African Americans past and their existence as a family. It was the organization’s objective to become more aware of their genealogical connection to ancestors who lay at rest in these burial grounds. Awareness of their ancestors, their trials, tribulations, and achievements, would help strengthen the roots that bind generations together.

A six-foot-high chain-link fence was installed around the entire cemetery in 2005 with money received from fundraisers and assistance from the Town of Stephens City.

June 2017

On a Saturday morning, Locust Grove Cemetery Inc. held a program at the cemetery located at 5300 Grove Street, to educate the public about its history and to seek assistance in its preservation. Locust Grove board members had been working to compile and update the burial register with a more comprehensive list of the people buried here.

The cemetery had been neglected in the past and the organization’s members feared if not properly managed, the people buried there would be gradually forgotten. The members were so passionate about the cemetery because many of their ancestors were buried at the site.

The board members wanted their children to remember their people have a proud legacy and an important history here and these burial grounds retain memories of their family’s past.

The Locust Grove Cemetery Treasurer, Garland Williams (since 2008), said knowing the past gives the younger generations even more reason to connect now. Children who grow up in this area do not truly understand that at one time people were buried in certain cemeteries based on their ethnicity or the color of their skin.

Saturday’s program gave the organization the chance to identify and share the needs of the cemetery and solicit help from residents, community business, and local government.

A presentation explained various ways volunteers could help with the preservation. The opportunities included educating others about the historical significance of the cemetery. Establishing identity and permanent grave markers for unmarked graves. Mapping the lot to help to plan for future gravesites. Identifying and restoring tombstones and making a financial contribution to purchase supplies and equipment.

July 2018

Stephens City residents were honored by the Locust Grove board after sixty years of volunteer service.

Richard Medley began cleaning up the historical African American cemetery when he was 28, (1958). He started mowing his relatives’ gravesites and decided to go ahead and mow the rest of the cemetery.

He was soon joined by his cousins Jesse and Alfred (Alf) Curry. Each man took great pleasure in the restoration and maintenance of the cemetery. Board treasurer Garland Williams said the men cleared a fair amount of the land that was covered in thickets of locust trees and honey suckle.

“They used their own scythes, sickles, lawn, and riding mowers, and weed eaters to mow and trim the one-acre property. The cemetery underwent property improvements to include clearing unruly vegetation, downed or dead trees, and received more frequent grass cuttings to make the cemetery more attractive,” Williams said.

In 2019, a boundary survey of both parcels, known as Locust Grove Cemetery, was completed by David E. Lellock of Lellock Consulting, PC, and recorded in Frederick County, Virginia, on June 12, 2019.

August 2022

The historic Locust Grove Cemetery finally received a paved driveway that makes negotiating the burial site much easier. The 450-foot-long road was previously dirt and gravel. The improved entrance not only meets the cemetery board’s desire for a more attractive driveway, it resolved the issues of safety and comfort. The board wanted visitors who may often be elderly, frail, or distracted by concerns associated with the loss of a loved one to feel comfortable, while driving or walking the grounds.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Yyivg_0vj5NAlI00 — Locust Grove Cemetery looking north to south, Green Hill Cemetery and 2,106-foot Signal Knob Mountain in the background.

Slonakers Custom Paving of Kearneysville, West Virginia, paved the driveway using a donation of 110 tons of crushed stone by the Carmeuse Winchester Operation in Clearbrook, VA. The Town of Stephens City completed the needed excavation. The project was coordinated by Denise Medley and approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Scouting America sponsored scouts who performed service projects to include installing a flagpole and lighting, placing brick pavers donated by Frederick Block of Winchester, around the flagpole, and planting shrubs around the circular paved base of the flagpole.

Each year, since 2018, volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have rendered their services to the cemetery. These activities have included picking up trash, planting trees, weeding, trimming, and cleaning the head and footstones.

September 2024

Currently, the Locust Grove burial register contains 240 graves. 135 were interred before January 1, 1948. Many of these graves are unmarked, while the elements have rendered some headstones illegible; marriage, birth, and death certificates of persons living in or near the Stephens City area who may have been buried at Locust Grove Cemetery can be helpful. “We may not know the exact burial spot of an unknown or discovered person, but for me, it is an even greater blessing to be able to find the names and missing facts concerning persons recorded as having Locust Grove Cemetery as their final resting place. It is good to have a name for those to be remembered and honored,” Denise Medley said.

Former Locust Grove Director and Secretary Denise Medley (2017-2023) continues efforts to research and compile a more detailed list of the people buried here. The primary resource used to support and document the research is Ancestry.com. Find a Grave.com has also been a reliable and contributing source. It is Medley’s hope to compile her research in a book and share this information with families looking to trace their ancestry. Medley requests any information, persons of interest, photos, and documents that would support the history of Locust Grove Cemetery be submitted to the board of directors.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ISvQ5_0vj5NAlI00 — 2024 Locust Grove Cemetery Board of Directors on a rainy, foggy, Saturday morning in September. L to R: President Alesha Whitmore, Jackie Cain, Larry Cain, Kenneth Minifield Sr., Secretary Yvette Stallings, Treasurer Garland Williams, and Latasha Vanderpuye. Not Pictured: Bryan Washington. All photos courtesy Harry Newman.

There are currently more than two hundred burial plots available. About three to six burials take place each year.

Bryan Washington has served on the board of directors for thirty-four years.

Board members Larry Cain and Garland Williams are the current volunteer groundskeepers.

Anyone who has information about Locust Grove Cemetery or who would like to donate or assist with its upkeep should email locustgrovecemetery5300@gmail.com.

Brian Whited Named New Police Chief in Front Royal

The Town of Front Royal has announced the appointment of Brian Whited as the new Chief of Police. Whited, currently serving as a Captain, will officially take on his new role on November 1, 2024. With over two decades of service in local law enforcement, his appointment marks the culmination of a remarkable career dedicated to the safety and well-being of the community.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3O4c4F_0vj5NAlI00 — Brian Whited

Whited’s connection to public service began long before he joined the police force. His first roles with the Town were in the Refuse and Recycling department in 1995, followed by a transfer to Water and Sewer in 1996. However, Whited’s true passion for public safety developed during his teenage years when he volunteered with the Front Royal Fire Department. This early experience in emergency services ignited his desire to pursue a career in law enforcement.

While working full-time for the Town, Whited completed the Auxiliary Police Academy at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy. His law enforcement career officially began in 2002 when he became a certified police officer for Front Royal. Since then, he has steadily advanced through the ranks, taking on various positions that prepared him for leadership.

Whited’s early years as a patrol officer eventually led him to work as a detective with the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. From there, his career took him into positions of growing responsibility, including Master Police Officer and Sergeant. His leadership skills became further evident when he was promoted to Captain in 2023, where he served in both operational and logistical capacities.

In addition to his various roles within the department, Whited has taken on special responsibilities, including SWAT Commander, Crisis Negotiations Team Leader, and Lead Firearms Instructor. These roles demonstrate his versatility and readiness to respond to a wide range of situations, making him well-prepared for his new position as Police Chief.

Whited’s career has also been shaped by his commitment to continued education and professional development. He has completed the highly regarded FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA) Trilogy Series and attended the Southern Police Institute for Managing a Small Law Agency. These programs, focused on leadership and management, are recognized for equipping law enforcement officers with the tools to effectively lead modern police departments.

As Captain, Whited has also been instrumental in bringing new projects and innovations to the Front Royal Police Department. His efforts have enhanced public safety and promoted the use of technology to improve departmental operations. His focus on community-oriented policing and strategic planning has earned him respect from both his colleagues and the public.

With his extensive experience and dedication, Whited is well-suited to lead the department into the future. Town officials have expressed their confidence in his ability to build on the department’s successes while continuing to prioritize the safety and security of Front Royal’s residents.

Whited takes on the role at a time when law enforcement is increasingly complex, requiring leadership that is both forward-thinking and community-centered. His background, both within and outside of law enforcement, provides him with a unique perspective to tackle these challenges. The residents of Front Royal can be assured that their new Police Chief is someone who knows the community well and is committed to its protection.

As Whited prepares to step into his new role, the Town looks forward to his leadership. His appointment reflects both his personal commitment to the town and the broader vision for the future of law enforcement in Front Royal.

Front Royal Police Chief Magalis to Retire After 7 Years of Service

The Town of Front Royal has announced the upcoming retirement of Police Chief Kerry “Kahle” Magalis, set for October 31, 2024. Chief Magalis steps down after seven years of dedicated service to the town, where he has been a key figure in the local police department since joining in 2017. He brought with him extensive experience from his time at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and has served the Front Royal community with integrity and dedication.

During his career, Chief Magalis also graduated from the FBI National Academy, attending its prestigious 264th session. This experience equipped him with leadership skills that have greatly benefited the town’s police force. Beyond his professional duties, Chief Magalis has been actively involved in community service through various local organizations, further cementing his role as a respected member of the town.

To honor his years of service, the Town of Front Royal will host a celebratory gathering for Chief Magalis on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The event will occur at the Front Royal Volunteer Fire Department Company 1, 221 N. Commerce Ave., from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The town invites all residents to attend, thank Chief Magalis for his service, and celebrate his retirement.

Chief Magalis’ contributions have left a lasting impact on the town, and his leadership will be missed as he steps down from his role. His retirement marks the end of an era for the Front Royal Police Department, but his legacy of service will continue to inspire the community.

Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Eastern Ratsnake

Fungal Disease Awareness Week continues with Snake Fungal Disease (SFD)!

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Lesions like those seen on the eastern ratsnake patient above are the most common sign of SFD, a contagious fungal infection caused by Ophidiomyces Ophidiicola.

This infection is often fatal in many snake species, but we do attempt treatment in many cases and many of our treated snakes survive and can be released.

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Like many diseases, this organism is spread from direct contact or a contaminated environment, highlighting the importance of biosecurity. This is one of many reasons why it is not legal to relocate snakes (or any wild animals in Virginia). Relocating snakes can expose naïve populations and cause massive population losses.

At Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, we see 6-12 snakes each year with this fungal infection and they are treated with nebulized antifungal medications to fight the organism in the lungs and on the skin.

This takes MONTHS and we typically nebulize these patients for at least 4-8 weeks after resolution of clinical signs to minimize the risk of them being released while still carrying the organism on their skin. That said, they are of course released to their exact found location. This means that they will not be introducing the organism to a new area if still carrying and yes, they could be exposed again as the organism is known to be in that area.

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We are also participating in a study through George Mason University looking at this fungal organism as well as the microbiome of our snake patients’ skin and how that may impact susceptibility to infection.

We swab the skin regularly before, during, and after treatment to help assess these infections, microbiomes, and response to treatment.

Fungal infections can wreak havoc on populations, but better understanding the progression of disease and response to treatment will hopefully help us mitigate this specific disease in the future!

Looking for an easy way to help native wildlife? Become a monthly BRWC donor! For as little as $5/month, you can provide year-round, sustainable support that helps us fulfill our mission.

Eastern Influence on Irish Christianity Explored in Work of Local Scholarship

What does a well named after a saint, a beehive hut, and a psalter with a papyrus in the binding have in common? They are all clues leading to the conclusion that Egypt influenced the flowering of Christianity in Ireland and that moreover there is the possibility that St. Patrick was not the first Christian presence in Ireland.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0W7IO3_0vj5NAlI00 — A presentation by author Connie Marshner at Christendom College on her recently published book, Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Author Connie Marshner presented at Christendom College about her recently published book, Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity. Marshner holds a master’s degree in Gaelic literature and teaches the Gaeilge tongue.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3QYbzJ_0vj5NAlI00 — Author Connie Marshner presents to an intimate gathering in St. Kilian’s Café.

In Aghabulloge, County Cork, St. Olan’s Well is located near a stone inscribed in Ogham script with this imperative: “Pray for Olan the Egyptian”. Ogham script is believed by some scholars to have been used as early as the first century C.E. That would possibly put this inscription at a date prior to St. Patrick’s alleged arrival in the fifth century. “Where would the idea come from,” Marshner asks in her book, “that an Egyptian named Olan needed to be prayed for? And that he was a saint? There probably was an Egyptian named Olan, and the folks who didn’t travel more than five miles from home in their lifetime thought he was remarkable and therefore remembered him with respect.” Nobody knows how old the stone is. But there is a school of thought among some scholars that the stone predates Patrick’s arrival by at least a century, thus putting an awareness of Egypt and possibly indicating the latter’s influence among Irish Christians in advance of the fifth century.

And what about the beehive huts on Skellig Michael, an island recently made popular by the Star Wars franchise? These stone-built dwellings made of drystone with a corbelled roof were built by monks to protect themselves from the harsh weather and could have served as places of worship. The only other place where beehive huts were made in this fashion was the deserts of Egypt. Again, a clue. And another clue is the Faddan More psalter, discovered in 2006 by Eddie Fogarty, made in Egyptian style and containing an Egyptian papyrus in the binding. This document dates to the eighth to ninth centuries. “To find a book made the same way,” Marshner writes, “conservators had to go to the binding of the Nag Hammadi codices in Egypt, fourth-century Gnostic Gospels that had been discovered in 1945.” The above are three among a host of artistic, literary, liturgical, and architectural artifacts that illustrate Marshner’s thesis about a strong East-West connection in the development of Irish Christianity and the possibility of a Christian presence in Ireland prior to Patrick’s arrival.

As Nag Hammadi scholarship so richly illustrates, anyone who deals with history is on some level dealing with fiction. That there was a Trojan war is undoubtable but that Homer’s account of it can be treated as scripture is somewhat less certain. The extent to which Irish Christianity is also shrouded in its own telling and retelling is precisely what makes Marshner’s questions so valuable. And it is precisely what makes a new generation of scholars ready to ask those questions so important. A picture emerges of the maritime highway between Egypt and the British Isles, established at least a millennium before Christ, the trade routes on which the savior would travel with his mother to illuminate a world already possessed by an active imagination and forever implant in that imagination the image of a cross. As druids became priests of the church, old ways surrendered to new ways, and in hindsight all history feels providential.

As supplies last, Marshner’s book can be found at Royal Oak Bookshop and ordered on Amazon.