Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-02-19
Was Faithful In
! Church Going
Washington Pre- S e n t
Local Catholic
Church was Suggested
BIZ the Rec. Louis Smet
Z. Mrry'S Chmch, AlefoHdrio,

st. Mrry'S Church, Alexandria,
Va.
Two landmarks, around which
cluster many memories Of Geo,
Washington's private life, arc
Po..ick church in Fairfax coun-
ty and Christ church in the city
of Alexandria, Va.
The former is situated about
seven miles to the south of Mt.
Vernon; the latter stands out
about an equal distance from
Washington's residence on the
north side. In both churches
George Washington held a pew,
but his activities were more
closely connected with Pohlck
than with Christ church. IT
was he VINO surveyed the ground
drew the plars and personally
superintended the building OF
Pohick church in 176S. Judging
from the similarity of the build
ings, it is quite probable that
the same plans were followed
also for the erection of rayne's
church, near Fairfax Court
house destroyed in 1862; O.
the church of the Falls falls
Church, Va.,) and of Christ
church in the city of Alexan-
dria, Va, the latter erected IN
1772.
For period of eleven years.
from 1863 to IVA. Washington
acted as a vestryman for Truro
parish. in which Mount Vernon
and Pohick church were located
and that he was not merely an
honorary member appears from
the fact that out of thirty-cnc
meetings held during those years
we found him present at twer-
.tv-three. He himself gives us
his diary accounts for his ab'
sence from the other eight as
follows: Once he was sick IN
bed: twice he was in attendance
at the General Assembly, ano
at the time of the remaining
five was out of the country.
It would seem from this thai
the Father of his Country was &
mos" faithful church member
To the same rural vestry OF
Truro parish belonged also an
other eminent man of the revo
lutionary epoch, George Masor
of Gunston Hall, the author OF
the immortal Bill of Rights. He
was neighbor and mtim"'
friend of George Washington
After the revolutionary war
Pohick church was left without
y minister and went almost tC
ruin until it was recently re-
stored.
In the latter period of his life
it was mainly in Christ chur +
in the city of Alexandria tina
George Washington worshlpped
He purchased pew in this
church Immediately upon its con
pletion, for which he paid &c
pounds and 10 shillings, the high
est sum offered by any buyer
His original pew in Christ
church may yet be seen and Is
one of the valuable relics that
draw throngs of visitors to the
historic city of Alexandria
Most of the furniture at Pohlck
was destroyed during the CIVIL
War but the church with ITS m
terror has since been restored SO
that the visitor can view 1t as
Il appeared in the time Of Col
onel George Washington OF Mt
Vernon.
II will be of interest to the
Catholic reader to know that
according to General Washing
tons diary, on Saint Patrick
Day, 1873, he dined at the home
Of Colonel John Fitzgerald one
Of his aides dc camp, during the
Revolution, who was deVou'
catholic. and that it was at that
dinner that the suggestion o.
erectinr Catholic Church in
Alexandria was first made TINS
church was built five years later
on the site of the present SAINT
Mary's cemetery. There is evil VI,
dance that Colonel Fitzgerald
was buried there, although there
is 10 monument to marx ms
gra1e. ,. poi.;o,,.