Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07

| Special Correspondence of The Star.
| WINCHESTER, Va, October 6, 1905.
| Rich as it is in secular history, the ia
nous Shenandoah valley of Virginia, which
/ is often made the theme of praise in song
and story, has a religious history just as
| important as that which the political states
men and soldiers of war made for this fair
! and God-favored region. Indeed, the pages
| of the glorious past are illuminated by con-
spicuous deeds of valor and heroism, as
well as accomplishments of statecraft con-
ceived and executed by those whose chief
object was that of planting the religion Of
the Lord of Hosts in this fertile vale of
the Shenandoah.
The Protestant Episcopal Church, no
doubt by reason of its close connection and
intimacy with the mother church of Eng
land, for whose virgin queen the Old DO
minion was named, has always been noted
for it's historical associations mere ana IN
the Shenandoah valley, and While there
are a large number of new and costly sane
tuaries devoted to Episcopal worship there
remain as many. if not more, stately OLD
edifces that recall the days of the long ago,
which, with occasional repairs give every
indication Of withstanding the expected
onslaughts of the elements and time Tor
generations vet to come. The people are
very loath to see these venerable land
marks give way to modern methods OF con-
struction, and it is rare case indeed 10
hear of one being completely razed merely
to please the fancy of some new-idea en-
thusiast The people seem, as rule to
find much more satisfaction in worshiping
in the massively built old churches than IN
those built during the present period
While the appearance Of Christ Church IN
Winchester suggests that 1t Is practicaily
new edifice, such. however, Is not the
case Indeed, it is one of the Oldest In Vlr-
ginia although 1t has undergone certain
improvements which were required by rea-
son of wear and tear, but had the workmen
attempted to alter the style of architect
ure of which it is notable example, there
is no telling what would have been the re-
suit. 1t has a history which is as precious
to the devoted member as is the beautl1ui
form of Episcopal worship itself.
Old Christ Church was here when
Thomas Lord Fairfax, the noted Scotch
Baron Of Cameron came from Engiands
| shores. after having been )hted TO say
the naked truth-by lovely young woman
of noble birth. Most readers and students
of historical literature are acquainted, II
not familiar, with the life OF LORD ralrIaN
in this country. He owned all the north
ern neck of Virginia"-not merely that por-
ton of the Virginia of today. but the Vir-
ginia of nearly two centuries ago, When
the Old Dominion extended her boundaries
as far west as the Ohio river. Were Lord
Fairfax living today and so situated he
would probably be derided as trust mag,
nate or a monopolist But the land mao
been given to him by royal grant. and,
being human and natural, he, Of course,
gratefully accepted the royal present, for
be it remembered the house Of Cameron
ranked high in Britain. Lord Fairfaxs
American home was called GreenWay
Court" 1t was, as now, situated near
White Post, Clarke county. Va. which is
q pleasant drive southeast from Wlnches-
ter.
On his deathbed in England ord Fairfax
made arrangements for his funeral. He
wished to be buried in the country to which
he had come to try to forget the bitter
"a st in England, and today the bones and
dust of the former owner OF all the land
as far west as the Ohio river repose in
massive vault of cement and limestone I'M
der the altar Of Old Christ Church of Win
chester which he endowed.
The most eminent divine who ever served
the congregation of Christ Church was the
late beloved Bishop William Meade, who
may be said to have begun his ministry
here. and in this neighborhood his great
" ork of reviving the church IA this diocese
after the church had to more or less ex-
tent deteriorated by many of the vestry-
clans. That Bishop Meade, then young
priest, succeeded in his worthy task the
wonderful growth of the church from that
| time on is ample evidence.
Soon after his ordination as priest or