Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-19
AN ANCIENT CHURCH.
The Structure From Which the VILLAGE
OF Falls Church was Named

An ANCIENT CHURCH.
The Structure From which the VILLAGE
Of Falls Church was Named.
RELIC OF THE LAST cENTURY-rHE SISTER
CHURCH TO CHRIST CHURCH, ALExANDRIA-
SKETCH OF FAIRFAX PARISH
Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
FALLS CHURCH, VA, Dec 16.
When our friends are visiting as, and we are
| showing them the objects of interest in this
village, and especially that relic, the old brick
building, the Episcopal "Falls Church." they
will naturally ask why was this village
called "Falls Church," and when was this old
church erected? The object of this article is to
answer these questions, and to give some infor-
nation In regard to the church and its minis
| ters in the early days and also some history of
| the church and this village at the present day.
In 1742 Fairfax county was separated from
Prince William county, and embraced within
| fax and Alexandria. The whole of this terri
tory comprised Truro parish, SO called from
Truro. a borough in Cornwall, ENGLAND, from
which many of its parishioners came In 1749
Cameron parish was taken off, and included
what was afterward Loudoun county, when
1857. In 17e4 Truro parish was again divided;
the southern portion, in which is located Pohick
church, retained the old name; the northern
portion took the name OF Fairfax parish.
THE ORIGINAL FRAME STRUCTURE.
Measures were Immediately taken to pro-
mote the interests of the churches in Fairfax
parish. The vestry book commences in 1765.
At that time there were two church buildings
fn He IN
ton Of the lower one is not known, but it is
quite probable that it was located in Alexan-
dria. Among the first acts of the vestry was
the repairing Of these two old churches at cost
of over thirty-two thousand pounds of tobacco.
In the year 1866. the vestry. determined to
hr1i1 two haS of rip MIA
of the "Little Falls church," very near the old
one, and the other in Alexandria,, to contain
twenty -four hundred square feet each.
MIR. James Wren agreed to build the Little
Falls church, and MIR. James Parsons the other
one, at a cost of about six hundred pounds ster-
ling each. A most particular contract was made
Tor the building OF each one. The mortar was
to have two-thirds of lime, and one-third of
sand, a reverse OF the proportions at this day,
which accounts for the great durability OF the
walls of those churches, which are still stand
ing intact. The shingles were to be of the best
thick whereas those now in use are only half
an inch thick.
THE ALEXANDRIA CHURCH.
MIR. Parsons commenced the Alexandria
church, but was unable to finish it, and in 1878
Mr. John Carlisle completed it, At the sale of
pews in this church Christ church) George
Washington gave the highest price paid, Tor
one of them, and that pew was occupied by
OF his name and family since, and it is now the
Mecca of all lovers of the illustriOus Father of
Our Country - The gallery was added to the
modern construction.
The church called Little Falls church." in
our village, was built according to contractan
it is believed to have been finished in I767.or
1853. The proposed gallery was never placed
in it, although there are two tiers of windows.
The general belief Is that the bricks used in its
construction were brought from England, as
were those used in building Rock Creek church,
Christ's church and Pohick church, all of which
were erected before the revolutionary war.
BISHOP MEADE'S VISIT
I am largely indebted to Bishop Meade's
writings for these facts and an account Of a
visit made by him to the church here, in 1927,
which will give somewhat of the history of the
church Ct up , 10 that time: Iquote entire:
ted my steps to the Falls Church., so-caled
from its proximity to one OF the falls on the
Potomac river. 1t is about eight miles from
Alexandria and the same from Georgetown. 1t
Is a large oblong brick building, and. like the
one near Mt. Vernon, has two rows OF windows
1t was deserted as a house of worship by Epis-
copalians nearly forty years ago. About that
period, for the first time-and it is believed tor
son. Since then it has been used by any who
were disposed to occupy 1t as a place of wor-
ship, and the doors and windows being
opened-itselt standing on the common high
way-lt has been entered at pleasure by travel
crs on the road and by animals of every kind.
Some years ago the attention of the professors
of Fairfax seminary. and also of some OF the
students, was drawn to it, and occasional SER
vices performed there. This led to its partial
was made by one of those devoted youths who
has given himself to Africa. Young Mr. Minor,
OF Fredericksburg (then student at the
| seminary, undertook the task of lay reader at
| this place, and by his untiring zeal and
most atiectionate manners, soon collected n
large Sunday school, in the conduct of which
he was aided by some of his .felOw-student of
kindred spirits. In losing Mr.. Minor (when he
went to Africa) the parents and children
thought they had lost their all, but providence
raised up Others, and doubtless viii continue
| to raise up as many as are needed. Our semi
nary will surely furnish the supply that is
called for. The house has recently been more
thoroughly repaired, and is now to outward
| appearance, strength and comfort, one OF our
| most desirable temples of religion, bidding fair
to survive successive generations of those UNI
worthy structures which are constantly rising
up and falling down throughout our land. On
our ministers, performed pastoral and episcO-
pal duties in this church. On the latter day, in
the midst of an Overlooking congregation, 1
confirmed six persons, and administered the
holy communion. On the evening of this day.
visited an interesting school of young ladies
at Mr.. Henry FairfaX's, and sought to make
some improvement of my visit, by addressing
| discourse especially to the young ones.'
THE CHURCH IN MODERN DAYS.
Mr.. Henry Fairfax, referred to in the above
extract, was q grandson of the Rev. Bryan
Fairfax heir to the title of Lord Fairfax and
minister to the Fairfax parish in the last GEN.
fury. 1t was chiefly at his expense that the
church was repaired, and by his liberality was
the minister supported when any other than
one of the professors or students from the semi
nary was employed. He raised company for
the Mexican war, but scarcely had he reached
the scene of action when he tell a victim to the
climate From the time of his death, IN 1886
until the war of 1861, the church building was
kept in tolerabe repair, and was in general use
| as a house of worship. During the year 1S6l i,
when the Union army occupied our village
the building was appropriated for military uses
the floor was taken out and the lower windows
cut down to the ground, and the doors, WIN
dOws and castings pretty generally destroyed.
After the war the government put the build
ing in repair, and the great contrast between
modern bricks and the old bricks of 1867 can
be readily seen where the modern ones have
been laid, up below the window stills.
CLERGYMEN WHO HAVE SERVED THERE,
The first minister of Fairfax parish was Rev.
TOwnshend Dade, who was ordained for this
parish in 1865 by the bishop of London, Eng
and he commenced his labors the following
| year. In 1777 committee was appointed to
wait upon him to inquire why he neglected to
| perform pastoral duty and failed to visit his
parishiOners. The result was that he that year
resigned. Rev. Mr.. West, OF Maryland was the
minister till 1779. In 1850 Rev. David Grit.
| fifth, chaplain in the army OF the revolution
was elected minister, and continued such till
his death, in 1889. During all this time he
Gen. Washington was his parishiOner, and at
tended at Christ church, Alexandria. He was
succeeded by Rev. Bryan Fairfax in 1890
who, as his health was delicate. was
granted by the vestry assistant and he
selected Rev. Bernard Page, as such assistant
giving him all the emoluments of the parish
No dOuhf the HTitfle Falls ChurohD xuoS ofto,,