Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-06
LOCAL NEWS.

PonlCK CHURCH. "A notice of the conse-
Grafton of Pohick church last Sunday appeared
in the G.zatte of the following day. The fol-
lowing account il taken from the Southern
Cnu1chmau:
en- sun lay, October 3. Pch;ck church was
consecrat.d to the worship OF Almighty God Oy
Bishop Johns.
Pohick church is about twelve miles from
Aiexandria and six miles from Mount Vernon.
II was the church which Washington regularly
attended never permitting any company to de-
tam him. lie WAS one of the vestry, and when
there was much dlsputing rs to the localities Of
the church, he drew an accurate map of the
parish with his own hand, and proved to the
veStry that the present site was the testone 1t
WAS built in MA, as the date on the church still
shows. In 1888, it h,d tnl e1 into decay. The
wife opan DOORS as Bishop Meade says, in
viicd not only the passing traveller, but every
beast Of the field and fowl OF the air. The int
rlor is still good. The roof only is dccaylng,
and the rain WAS dripping through, On the
doors Of the pews are still to be seen the names
OF the Washingtons, Mssons, and Falrtaxes IN
gil: letters"
He then makes q strong appeal on the ground
of patriotism and religion for its restoration
Soon after the Rev. Mr.. johnson, who etficisted
in the pa ish collected about eight hundred
dollars, chiefly from members of Congress, for
it, repair, which WAS expended on a new roof.
|! Was used for Episcopal services occasionally
till the war The Rev. Charles Howard, OF
Baltimore. then a student of the Seminary,
ohi.ia,ed with great z,al and success MS u lay
rc:.der. During the war 1t was desecrsted ny
the soldiers fros were kindled IN 1t for COOK.
ing their provisions; the flooring of stone was
carried of for frc-placcS; the root was rlddled
by muskct balls All attempt WAS made to bioW
up one Of til corners in order TO obtain the CONS
supposed to be deposited there, which WAS IN
successful from the thickness OF the walls. IL
CO.. tinued in this state till Theodore Wetmore,
esq, OF Duchess county, New York, by ms
own munlfcent contributions, and aided by
friends, his III Jroughly repaired it. he has
shown extraordinary Z 81 in this good work,
and has made frequent visits to superntend IN
person, its repalrS-on enc occasion walking
the twelve miles from Alexandria; and he must
have been richly rewarded in his own heart
when, last Sunday he WAS permitted in person
t, see his untiring efforts in is behalf crowned
with success. The day Of conservation one
of the most beautiful days of earl y autumn, and
the iun shone hri gh,ly into the windows of the
old church upon Il congregation which filled it.
The morning service conducted by Rev.
Dr. McEhinnsy and Rev. DR.. Packard, fol-
lowed by an address by Bishop Johns. We
were glad to find him so recovered from his re-
cent severe indi position. An organ, recently
obtained by Mr.. Wctmore, "sweIled the notes
of praise" to Almighty God. Poh,ck church
should be one of the places Of pilgrimage for
the admirers of Washington. In the recent
centennial commentators, no one has been
more interesting than the conservation of Wash.
ington's old church.