Join us in celebrating our February Volunteers of the Month, Patrick Heffernan and Barbara Hensler!
This month, we are proud to honor two individuals with a combined 37 years of service. But we aren't just celebrating two dedicated researchers; we're celebrating a partnership that turned a shared passion for the past into a life journey together. After meeting as volunteers at Historic Christ Church and Museum (HCC&M), their mutual devotion to historical research led to their marriage in 2018. That seemed to make the couple fitting honorees for February, but they were too busy finalizing a major volunteer project to time their radio interview to coincide with Valentine's Day!
A Legacy of Research
At HCC&M, history isn't just a subject of study--it's a foundation for community and connection. While Barbara has been a cornerstone of the HCC&M volunteer community for 23 years and Patrick for 14, their collective impact on the Foundation has been immeasurable, according to Jill Sears, Development Director at HCC&M.
Patrick and Barbara have dedicated thousands of hours to creating vital online resources that bring local history to life. Patrick's early work included authoring a book and two digital resources focused on the lives of enslaved people and servants at the Corotoman estate, the very site where the historic church was built. Together in 2018, the couple launched an additional resource detailing all 18th-century landholders in Christ Church parish.
Their recent achievements have expanded the scope of their work significantly:
As We Were - Lancaster County, 1785-1860: Published in December 2024, this massive digital project provides a "cornucopia of information" about almost everyone living in the county during that era-including enslaved Black, free Black, and white residents.
As We Were - Westmoreland County, 1785-1860: Building on their success in Lancaster, and with support from fellow volunteers, this next chapter is scheduled for web publication in early 2026.
The couple's ultimate vision is to extend these exhaustive studies to other counties across the Northern Neck and beyond. According to Sears, "The Foundation for Historic Christ Church remains in awe of Patrick and Barbara's tenacity. Their selfless dedication ensures that the stories of those who lived and worked in our region are preserved for generations to come."
Finding Their Volunteer Home
In their radio interview, Barbara and Patrick discussed how they came to volunteer with HCC&M. Patrick was researching the history of his own property when he found the treasure trove of resources at HCC&M, which eventually pulled him into greater involvement. Barbara, on the other hand, moved to the area in 2001 and was looking about for places to get involved. At that point, she did not know many people, and so she decided to check out HCC&M because her mom had long been a volunteer there. Fortunately, it turned out to be a good fit! However, as she pointed out in her interview, Volunteer River Counties makes it easier now to find your volunteer niche: "Knowing what's out there and how it might fit into your schedule, as well as your interests. You still get to give back to the community, but you can pick and choose..."
Ready to find your passion? Check out the the volunteer opportunities with the Historic Christ Church & Museum, as well as with over 70 other amazing local non-profits.
Thank you, Barbara and Patrick, for your extraordinary service--and for reminding us that the best stories are the ones we write together.
