Good Shepherd, Hickory Hill

Built between 1902 and 1905, the Good Shepherd, Hickory Hill church long functioned as one of the primary places of community life in the Ragged Mountains, just southwest of Charlottesville, Virginia. Due to dwindling attendance in the earl 2010s, the thrice expanded (though still small) building went into a state of semi-hibernation, during which weekly services were suspended. Through Anik's involvement with the Hickory Hill community, the opportunity to renovate and reimagine Good Shepherd and its landscape arose in the early 2020s. Still ongoing, the renovation has proceeded through several stages and is an ongoing process of community building, historic preservation and reinvention, maintenance, and renovation. The latest phase involved renovating the building's 1200 sq ft Fellowship Hall and the former rector's office to meet the need for a highly flexible community-cultural space with access to the Ragged Mountains. Mold and asbestos remediation cleared the air and a new floorplan made the space more available for community workshops and gatherings. Local Tulip Poplar (Lindera benzoin) frames the windows and doors with views to the graveyard (also populated with Tulip Poplar) and the acidic Oak-Hickory-Ericaceous ridge landscape behind. Regrading and planting continues in 2026 to rectify drainage and erosion issues and create outdoor areas that extend the space's ability to host events, play, exploration, and gardening.