Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-09-20
THE H'1sEECN CHURCH..
Correspondence of the Washington Start
FAIRFAX Co.. Va, Sept. Il.

FAIRFAX Co., Va, Sept. 10.
After delightful drive through finely.
wooded and we'll cultivated country I ar
rived at Pohick Church, regarded with SO
much reverence by Americans, as it Was
here for many years that Gcn. Washington
worshipped The sexton unlocked the
large gate of the enclosure. The rite Of tho
church was selected by Washington on &C.
count of Of lis central position, aud its prox.
unity to Mount Vernon. The contractor
| was MIR. Daniel French 1t was begun in
| 1863 and finished in 1872. The bricks were
| made in the county and the stone was
brought from The Isle of Wight. The build.
! ing i5 G64 feet in length by 10 in Width, and
| the walls are IS feet in height. The entire
cost was SIT pounds sterling. The money
| for the payment was raised BY taxation.
| The walls appear to have been broken. as
the repairs have been made with newer
bricks. The church has an ancient uppcar.
ance, and is very much larger than is usual
~ seen in the country. There are two large
doors on the western side and one on the
south side and twenty six windows. The
steps are eight in number, built of
the same stone as the trimmings and case
ments of the doors. The church has been
thoroughly renovated. There are two
aisles and tour rows Of substantial pews apd
u beautiful chaacel inclosed with q semi
circular railing. During the civil war the
regiments stationed at Alexandria quarter.
ed their pickets il this church, and tbs
Pennsylvania and Iowa Union soldiers eta.
bled their horses in it. The stone tagging
OF the aisles WAS torn up aud thrown out,
the pulpit and peTs broksn up aud the
pieces sent as mementoe5 or relics to differ
ent states to relatives and friends. Wash.
| ington's pew met with the same treatment.
The spot on which it stood, on the north
side, is pointed out TO visitors The roof of
The Church wes pierced with bullets; ell the
plasteriGg fell down; holes were chiseled
cut III tie corners Of the church, which had
stone feelings, to fnd the money supposed
to be 10 the corner stone, and some mem
bers OF an Iowa regiment carved their names
in the west corner on the stone facings near
| the door.
The list OF the names of the original YES
trymen Of Pohick church was kindly fur.
nished me by a Virginia gentleman of Acco-
link, who is quite an antiquarian, and had
copied them from the vestry book of l77o,
which has been found during the last three
months in the State of New York, where it
had been treasured and hid away by Viz
GINA family. The first vestryman's name
on the list was that of George Washington,
and then followed the names Of George Ma
son, of Gunston. who wrote the bill of rights
of the State Of Virginia; George w. Fairfax,
baronet, collector OF the kings customs for
the Potomac; Alexander Henderson, Mar
tin Cockburn, Col. Daniel McCarty, Gen.
William Payne, Thomas Wither Golfer and
Mr.. EllZer.
Near the church is Il small grove. There
are also many graves. read the following
inscription OIL tombstone over hundred
years old:
To tho memory Of Mrs Susanna Mills, wife of
John Mills tMcrchant}, who departed this lift,
June II, 111ti. aged 80 years
| Whstce r she was forbear to say
| Twill best he known on that great day
| When you and all and every one
Must give an account of what was done
| 10 say no more she lived approved
Died lamontcd and beloved.
Aa | turned away to return homewards
my mind was filled with thoughts of the
dltlerept scenes which had been enacted on
and around this historic spot during peace
and war, under the same soft, blue sky,
with its feathery clouds, and the same beau.
tlul surroundings of emerald green mead.
ows, yellow tinted grain fields and distant
bills Hooded with waves of light catching
CLEANS Of the suns glory.
a correspondent of the Washington Re-
lpHblicon writes:
Mrs. Milsteaa, who lives uesr here. en-
tertained the Mite Society Of Pohck Church
last evening, assisted by her daughters.
| Misses Belle and Lila. The meetings of
this society, while for the purpose Of iinanci-
ally aiding the church which Washington
located and was largely interested in build
ing, are looked forward TO by members and
neighbors fcr miles around as social events
greatly to be enjoyed, and always prove of
great interest. The attendance last ever.
Ing was large Rev. S. 4. Wallis, rastor
OF Pohick, presided at the business meeting
after which photographs of PohcE, which
have lately been taken, were exhibited
end sold for the benefit Of the church
almost everybody becominga possessor ofoue
Or more OF them. Pohick Chnlc h is not so
we'll known to lovers Of historical spots rs ia
Christ Church, Alexandria, yet, it was more
tho church home Of Washington than the
latter. 1t was Washington who adyo.
Gated its building. Upon Il dispute aris-
ing regarding its location, he made & sur.
vey OF the surrounding country and calcu-
lated the centre of population, which
he located at the point the old oblonr
building now occupies, and SO appar.
ent was his argument that he overca me all
opposition of those who sided with tho Ma
sons who lived ct Gunstor, and who wished
the odifice as near as possible to that place.
The church is situated near q grove, has
sandstone corners, door trimmings and
steps, and has rathor q massive appearance.
1t is surmounted By q pointed roof, is IS feet
high, 10 feet wide, and &c! feet long. Wash
ngton superintended its construction per-
sonally, aud became yestryman upon its
completion. The story Of the buildings
treatment during tho war is rather surpris.
| ing to those who reverence associations of
great men. The place was sacked by feder
| al troops, who amused themselves shooting
at the various figures on the freacoed cell.
ing, tore up the tagging to blockade
the doors in the event of an attack, hacked
everything, aud many cut their names on
the walls inside and outside. The story of
the destruction of Washington's pew is told by