Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-21
CHURCH RESTORED
BY ALExANDR|ANS
Ancient Edifice Thought to
Have Been Visited Often
by Washington.

Ny VootuttSNVth
An historic shrine of Importance APP
preaching that of the famous Kings
Chapel in Boston has been resurrected
by Alexandria in an obscure section of
the city where 1t had been forgotten
for nearly century,.
This is the First Presbyterian Church,
the manse and the tiny churchyard
burying ground.
A year ago. the church abandoned
for years. its roof falling in and the
building in decay, was unnoticed. The
churchyard, where several of George
Washington's most intimate friends and
an unknown soldier of the Revolution
are buried, was tangled heap of
brambles and fallen stones.
Secure Against Weather.
Today the building has been made
secure against weather. restored to
something of the appearance ii pre-
sented in WaShington's day. and local
historians are trying to piece together
the frag,nentary records
Christ Episcopal Church. where
Washington had a pew. long has been
one of the historic shrines in this part
Of the country. visited almost as fire.
ouently at Mount Vernon. Yet there is
every reason to believe. according to
W. B. McGroarty. president of the
Washington Society of Alexandria, that
the first President attended the Pres
byterian services about as frequently
best friends i'll Alexandria were Pres
byterians and the old church was used
frequently for Masonic services. in
which he took mart
Buried in the churchyard besides
the unknown soldier, are Col. Dennis
Ramsey. WaSllington's closest friend in
Alexandria: Maj. John Carlyle, DR..
James Craik, his personal physician.
and many veterans OF the Revolution
and of the Braddock expedition who
must have been on intimate terms with
the general. In fact. local historians
are not sure just who is buried there
and further search of the records and
examination OF the obliterated inscrip-
some colorful episodes of early Ameri-
can history which have been forgotten.
Pastor Buried There.
Under the pulpit is buried DR.. James
Muir, first pastor OF the church, to
whose sermons Washington often lis
tened.
There seems to have been no rivalry
between Christ Church and the First
Presbyterian in Washington's day, ac-
eording to Mr.. McGroarty. and promi-
nent citizens were pew holders in both
institutions, attending either one as
they felt inclined
The church continued as a place of
worship until after the Civil War. when
the congregation was split by the slav-
e-y issue. The younger and larger ele-
ment was with the South and left the
church to establish a Southern Presby-
terrain congregation-the Second Pres
byterian Church. which still is used
The old people left in the First Pres
byterian Church died of rapidly dur
ing and Immediately after the war, so
that the building soon was left with
out q congregation and without owner.
Finally the title to the property was
transferred to the Second Presbyterian
Church by an act of the Legislature.
but practically no use was made Of it.
Sometimes it was used for a few Sum
Gays by other congregations whose own
churches were being repaired. Some of
the benches were torn out and given to
colored church which has agreed to
restore them In return for new pews.
Used as Tenement.
The manse. a brick building of the
founder" type, which was common in
Virginia cities a century ago, was con-
verted into a tenement house and still
Is used for this purpose. The extern
sive flower garden which DR.. Muir and
his wife had cultivated in front OF the
nanse became dump heap. The fate
Of the churchyard was even more pa
thetic. All the relatives of the Revolu-
moved away and no attention was paid
TO the graves. The stones tunblec
down and branbles covered them.
In 1926 st. Mary's Catholic Church
was built On land adjoining the Pres
byterian ciurchyard. Workmen dig
ging the foundations drove their picks
into a wooden box near the edge Of
the graveyard. Suspecting that 1t might
be q coffin. they uncovered it ard
opened it. Inside lay the bones OF
man wearing the full uniform OF
soldier Of the Continental Army. There
were no records TO indicate who he
was. A medical examination Of the
bones showed that the man had been
wounded severely and probably had
died Of his wounds. The coffin was
moved over the line into the church.
yard and a record made OF the loca-
ton OF the new grave.
This Winter Alexandria awoke TO
the realization that this unmarked
grave probably was the last resting
place Of the only unknown soldier OF
the Revolution whose identity could not
be traced and who would stand as a
symbol of the thousands OF obscure
men who served In the war, Just as
the Unknown Soldier In Arlington
stands as q symbol Of the unidentified
dead in the World War On Wash
i1gtons birthday. stone will be placed
over the spot. Exercises VIII take
place at noon. shortly before the ar
rival 0: President Coolidge.
Old Organ Remains.
The presbyterian meeting ilotiSe." as
II Is known In the old records. is
changed somewhat from The appear
anoe IL presented III WaShington's day,
In 1877. j. was struck by lightning
enc 50 damaged that one section was
rebuilt At the same time q bell
tower Was added above the pulpit
In the choir loft. the original pipe
organ stiiI Is in piace and. although
badly out o! tune. Sill can be used.
II will be tuned and repaired, The
roof has been repaired, the walls re-
plastere6 and the pe9s painted.
Restoration Of the cnurchyard lis
more difficult, due u the dilapidated
condition o! the stones. The burial
Yecords are incomplete and III some
CASES only q few letnFs VI the in
scriptions remain. The letters which
have nsen ohiiteratec by bong exposure
" The weather must he filled Ia by
experts In such work.