The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-18

tFrOn e oloniAl Churches OF VIZ
ginia," by courtesy Of the publishers,
tho southern Churchman company. or
Richmond. We take the picture and
sketch given below. The sketch IS
an abbravation or the history OF this
interesting landmark by Rev. Samuel
A Wallis, who was rector there from
1881 10 1891.
"O}d Pohick church" as Il Is ia
mlliarlN ana aneCt!onately called by
the people Of the vicinity stands out
as enc OF the historical landmarks not
only OF Virginia. but also OF the ma
lion 1t Is pre~eminently the parish
church ~ Mount Vernon. and shares
the honor with Old Christ churcn,
Alexandria. of being intimately es1
ISOLATED with the religions life and
worship Of Washington. 1t Was also
the pa rish church Of another notable
and noble dgure Of the Revolution,
the celebrated George Mason, of Gun
stou Han, the author OF the BIZ OF
Rights 81 virginia. The association
Of two such immortal names with the
history OF "oId Pohick' Justly en-
titles It TO foremost place among
tn ecciesia sticai edifees Of this land.
The present church, commodi-
Gus and solid struture. built Of brick
with stone dressings ia the style OF
tho Georgian period, 80 common IN
the churches erected during the last
hnlf rff the eighteenth century Is the
second church built in the lower part
Of Truro Parish Its predecessor was
a simple frame edifice situated two
miles nearer Gunston Hall, on the
south eide Of Pohick Run. from which
the church derives itg name.
Fortunately for the history OF the
nnrish the late venerable Rev. p.
'Phifip Slaughter. historiographer OF
the Diocese OF virginia, recovered the
old veftry boow from someone In the
North for tho sum Of twenty dollars,
about twenty years ego. The Vestry
az pohlck gladly paid this amount 80
Dr. Slaughter, and counts THIS Old
volume. now deposited ~ Mount Yer
non for safe keeping. as amongst its
most valued possessions Before he
book WAS acquired by the v"stry Dr.
Slaughter added to his raIua ole parish
histories, already written. he history
OF Truro parish. OF course taking TN :
Invaluable record Of fifty three years
ns the basis OF his work This is stsI
In Iuanuscrip In the hands OF the
writer OF the present article, who con-
fldontlV hopes that the rapidly rfNiN-
ing interest in the antiquities OF VIZ
Rinia NAV soon give him the long
desired opportunity Of publishing TINS
important contribution 20 the history
of the Diocese and state.
The first record in tho vestry book
roes back to May. 1892, when the par
fsh of Truro was, by act OF assembly,
formed from Hamilton parish, which
was coterruinous with what was tnen
Prince william county extending
from Chappawamsick creek and Deep
Run along the Potomac to the graf
mountains.
The hrst minister of the parish was
The Rev. Lawrence de Butts. via D
however, did not remain long IN
charge He was engaged for only one
wear TO preach three times month
~ occonusn church. then in Hamilton
parlsh at The new church cor MI
CunwelTsJ. by whicn. | think wSs
meant Paynes church, near the PREF
ett town OF Fairfax. and at the CHAP
ele' above Goose Creek. at the sum
of 5000 pounds OF tobacco. clear ~
warehouse charges and soateTheht9t
with the proviso that IL he were pre-
vented by the weather. or other"'s"
fails 20 preach at any OF the tunes or
n1acea aforesaid. tobacco shall only
be levied for him in proportion TO ms
services. II is interesting TO not that
the first lay reader in the parish,
elActea at a vestry meeting hold on
the 10Th Of October. 1913. was Joseph
1ohnson. who was to receive 1900
pounds OF tobacco, provided he Ola hs
duty In his office.
Rev Charles Green was the hrst
regulaly constituted rector
From all We know OF him. ne was 4
man Of high character, faithful TO ms
duties. enjoying the friendship ana
seryices. II is Interesting to nete that
Washington and other prominenS
members of the vestry and commun-
itv. He remained in charge OF inc
parish until his death, in 1865.
I'm the year l74l Fairfax county was
taken from Prince william, and the
boundaries Of this county and Truro
Parish became coterminous. In Feb
r,lery. 1T4a-b0, IT ia recorded that
George Mason was appointed chnrcn
warden in place OF jeremiah Bron-
aueh. deceased This r. the first APP
pearancA OF The name OF the Nlustrious
patriot OF Gunston Hall on the vestry
book. He continued as an active mem
her OF tho vestry until after the Rev
olutlon. when all Nestfies, under the
laws of the State were dissolved, but
ne no doubt remained connected with
Pohiok church until his death. In
1872
The next incident worthy of note l.
the division Of Truro Parish by act
OF assembly IN t14s, by line run
ming from the mouth OF Difficult Run
to the head thereof, and thence ru'i-
ming across the country TO the head
OF Pope's Head Run. and down this
run TO the mouth thereof, and all that
part of the parish below this line to
retain the name OF Truro. and that
above 10 DE called Cameron Parish.
On tho 4th OF June l753. II was or
dered by the vestry OF Truro Parish.
on the petition or Captain John Wst,
that the Rev. Charles Green do pre:h
on every third Sunday IN tho town NJ
Alexandria. This Is the first mention
of that town In the vestry book. and
gives us the probab bio date OF tho f1rrt
church service there, being ten years
earlier than is generally supposed. In
1885 II Is ordered that the church WAY