Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA.
History Of the Old Church From Which
the Village Derives its Name
4 THE EVENING SrAn.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Why Falls Church? asks the visitor. The vii
lage, just approximating the dimensions of a
town, derives its name from the old colonial
church, which for so many years was the one
building III the vicinity, the village proper be-
ing almost entirely modern. The writer we'll
remembers when the old church, store and
post office, and blacksmith shop constituted
the town.
In the days Of his majesty King George the
Third, when Virginia was a colonial settlement,
Falls Episcopal church was built with-tobacco!
II those who are increduous will look in Bishop
Meade's "Old Churches and Families Of vir-
gnia" they will see that in 1866 a contract was
made with James Wrenn to build the church
for 1900 pounds of tobacco, equivalent, the
bishop says, to about f6OO sterling The con-
tract for Christ church. Alexandria, was let at
the same time to the same person. the two
buildings and Pohick church being cotempo-
raneous. There is no proof that George WASH
lngton was evera vestryman of this church or
that his little Ratchet is buried in the church.
yard, but that he occasionally attended services
here Is highly probable. Bat many a stylish
turnout with coat-of-arms aud livery no doubt
came out on Sundays, bringing the colonial
churchmen to worship, before the British dis
turbed things thereabouts. .s<l:
Some of the materials of this ediice Cbut not
all, as is sometimes related in tradition) were
brought from England. 1t had its old-fashioned
wine-glass pulpit and churchly tablets with
decalogue, de-, on the walls, and its high box
pews, in which sat the elite of Virginia, and
which were just the thing for comfortable
nap or possibly Irritation. VI n
Somewhere in the ''thirties" 1t was abandoned.
Episcopalanism was at a low ebb in those days.
and under its dismantled walls the cattle shell
tered themselves from the flies and weather.
while the stars shone through holes in the roof
and hares raised their young under its shade.
or gambolled fearlessly about the old burying
ground. Later it was handsomely refurnished
by Henry Fairfax, esq.,. in elegant style. and
was again o center OF worship until 1851 When
war desolated all that part of Virginia the old
church was again partly in ruins, and occupied
first as a hospital and then a. Q stable, the very
walls being partly destroyed by the ruthless
soldiery. The close Of the war found such of
the old residents as survived its desolations a.
ruined as the church. BY order OF the War
department. 1t was restored in q very plain way
and made fit for use.
In the old church yard surrounding the edi-
fce lie the remains Of many Of virginia's his
toric dead, many tombs and graves being OBJ
liberated beyond recognition. The old sexton
says that when he first knew the church Gin
1885, think it was) there was q stone portico
with pillars at the south entrance, aud on the
base OF one OF the pillars was cut .'i776."
The present rector Is Rev. Frank PAGE.
brother of Thomas Nelson Page. The church
IL in more thriving condition than since the
war, and efforts are contemplated 70 restore
Its historic appearance within a. we'll AZ with.
out. JR