The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
THE CHURCHES OF POHICK
Where Washington WOrshiped Be
fore the Revolution.
The Old and New Ediices-A Sketch
of the History of the Lattcr-The
Yestry in I16S-The Plans Drawn
by the Gather of His Country"

of the History of the Lattcr-The
yestry in I16:S-The Plans Drawn
by the "Father of His Country
The church in which the first President
Of this nation ordinarily worshiped before
the Revolutionary War is known. per
haps, to but few persons. For several
years prior to the close of the last CEN
tury there were two churches by the
name of "Pohick." in the parish OF
Truro. Fairfax county. Va. Each was
named from Pohick Run, a small stream
which rises a short distance back in the
country and empties into the Potomac
River One Of these churches was stu
ated on the south side of the run. near
Gunston Hall, the seat of the mansion
of the Mason family. and the other on the
north side. They were some TWO miles
apart. and the run was about equally dis
tant from each. They We're known, re-
spectiyely, as the Old Pohick Church and
the New Pohick Church, although the lat
ter was sometimes called the Mount Yer
non Church
OF the old church little or nothing is
known prior to about 1772. 1t was a wood
IN building, and on account of its dilapi-
dated condition il was abandoned as a
place Of worship az about the year mon
toned. Washington had been an attend
ant OF this church for long time, and a
restryman Of the parish since 1853. Look
ing through the old church records the
following names are also found in con-
junction with that of the Father of his
Country: George Mason. Daniel McCarty
Alexander Henderson, Thomas Elizey
Thomas Withers Golfer. Peter Waggener
Thomas Tone, Martin Cockburn, William
Triplett, William Payne. tr., John Barry
John Gunnell, and Thomas Triplett The
form Of worship observed in the church
was in conformity with the doctrines and
discipline OF the Church of England
The rector Of the church was Rev. Lee
Massey, who took charge OF the congre-
CATION in 1865 He was the friend and
companion Of Washington from early
youth. BY the persuasion of the latter,
Mason, Fairfax. and others. he studied d.
vinity. was ordained in London, and be-
came the rector Of the church
About the year 1863 meeting OF the
parishiOners was held. At which it was
decided to erect a new church edifice.
NEen the question Of locality came to be
considered an animated discussion arose.
Mr.. Mason and several others advocated
the old site. They said il was the place
where their fathers had worshiped, and
that the graves Of many Of their friends
and kindred were around il. Washing
ton and those who agreed with him advo-
Gated u more central and convenient To-
cation. The question was left unsettled,
and another meeting was called for its
decision. Meanwhile Washington sur
Neyed the ncighborhood and marked the
houses and distances on a well-drawn
map. and when the day OF meeting ar
rived he upset all the arguments OF his
opponents by presenting this map, and
thus carried his point, with scarcely any
opposition. The site chosen for the new
church was in A handsome grove Of stur-
dy oaks, Interpreted with a few pines.
The grove was in an open common, sit
uated on the road leading from Accotink
to Fairfax Court House. and in close
proximity TO the pOstrcad leading from
Alexandria to Fredericksburg. On this
site what is now known as old Pohick
Church where Washington worshiped.
was erected in l7T2. and is therefore 129
years old. II is seven miles from the
Mount Vernon mansion. four miles from
Accounk, and three miles from the Poto-
mac River
the ground plans and front elevation OF
the new edifice, the plans of the aisles,
the disposition Of the pews, the altar and
chancel, and the location OF the pulpit.
From these plans the architect super
Vised the erection and completion of the
building, which is Sc by f5lz feet. The
ediflce is a handsome specimen of the
church architecture Of that period IL is
built of brick which were brought from
England: mas windows above and below,
giving IL the appearance Of a two-story
building he upper tier Of windows were
intended TO light the gallery should one
ever be added to the seating capacity OF
fha ecifice. The roof is gaInbrel or curb