Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-04

OF the New Presbyterian
Church at Greenwich, Prince William
Comfy, Va, July 3Isr, 1858.
Correspondence If tie Alerandria GazeHe
leaving the Potomac by the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad, a pleasant ride OF an
hour and half drops the traveller at Games
vile Station, from whence q tive-mIe drive
over an excellent highway, winding within
sight of the village of auckland, brings him
to the unpretcnding little settlement of Green
wch, where, time out Of mind, the forefash-
ers of the hamlet have maintained, through
varying vicissitudcs, the Presbyterian faith
and form of worship.
The latter has been conducted for macy
years in an old log Church, the weekly occu-
pancy Of which has been alternately shared
with great harmony by worsbippers Of other
denominations in the neighborhoOd but the
inadequacy and discomfort Of the time-hcn-
ored building having become each winter
more and more apparent, the Presbyterians
determined to erect Church for their own
purposes, where their latterly increasing num-
bers, under the able ministry OF the Rev. John
w. Pugh, could fad accommodation every
Sabbath in the year.
The foundation stone was laid in July,
1857, and now, on the edge OF grove OF oaks,
sands the new edifce, with outrageous shade
On flank and rear, overlooking an expanse IT
great beauty, wide farms dotted wiki the
fruits Of yellow harvcsts, with the blue hills
If Fauauier and Loudoun as u background
to the landscape.
The designs for the building, furnished by
Mr.. Baldwin, of Washington, were success
fully carried to completion by Mr.. John K.
Spiiman, of Warrenton. The structure Is Of
brick, rooted with pointed slate. The order
is Gothic substantial buttresses stay the
walls, and an airy spire surlnOuu,s the whole.
Externally the building Is coated with COM
pound Of hydraulic cement and pigments,
the result of which is fawn color of agree
able effect among the forest foliage.
10 the interior everything Is suggestive OF
implicitly and convenience. Inc seats are OF
vanished pine, and we were glad to note that,
throughout, the beautiful gralG Of our native
wood had not been dishsured by paint IL
front of the pulpit, supported by bronze brack-
cts, is a handsome marble communion table,
for which, with the stools. the church is, we
believe, indebted to the liberality of MeSsrs
Green Il Bro, of Alexandria. The house is
lit by eight lancet windows, OF cylinder semi
frosted glass, which tones down the light
and excludes the sun. Including a cOmmo-
dious gallery for servants, comfortable sit
ting room is aff,ided for three hundred and
twenty persons, though nearer four hundred
were seated when We entered the building,
leaving nearly as many outside the doors and
in groups about the window,--the Interest Uf
the services, aud the beauty OF the weather,
having attracted most respectable assem-
blage.
Among the numerous equipages which one
after another appeared on the sylvan scene,
there was one which attracted our attention
more than all the rest. twas u wagon, capa-
cious, well appointed, and drawn by a team OF
sleek oxen, covered with white sheets. As
it wound leisurely up the hill into the woods,
we found it filled with the young ladies from
the boarding school Of the accomplished
Misses NJ, Of Ringwood. Taere was u
dash Of the oriental and plcture.que-lt was
a picture which we would not have exchanged
for tue finest carriage and steeds from Broad
way. And when the interesting group mod
estly took their way to the church door, fol-
lowing them with our eyes, sad to think that
such innocence and beauty should ever grow
older, we offered an involuntary aspiration
that their future might be hedged about by
Gods own hand, and the lures of hollow
world spread for them in vain.
But to the services of the day. These
were opened in excellent taste, by that sub
lime hymn" Before Jehovah's awful throne"
the grand old tune There is but one such }
ringing along the arched roof, fine exponent
of Watts idea Of true psalmody-
Lord, how delightful It's 10 see
a whole assembly worship thee
After an eloquent discourse by the Rev. DR..
button, of Chares!own, from Psalm XXXyH,
SGrEn ord lnynrh tho Oo,ps Oi /I.u mare