Evening star., 1948-02-29
Early Prince Georges Church
By John CIoaett Proctor

commonly CalleQ Broad |
Creek Church. Is one Of
~ Maryland's oldest houses
of worship. It was organ
lied on January 30, 1893, at the
home of John Addison, early known
as Oxon Hall or Oxon Hill, and on
July 40. 1896, the Rev. George Tub
man became the first minister of
the parish. He continued as such
until his death in 1701, being sue
ceeded the following year by the
Rev. Robert Owen. BY June %,
1910, the Rev. John Frazier became
rector Of the parish ,and was instru-
mental in the founding Of Addison
Chapel in Maryland and our own
st. Johns Church.
The work which was started in
connection with the latter was cli-
NAKED September Is, 1719, when
Col. John Bradford wrote on the
subscription paper:
"John Bradford, one hundred acres
of land called Generosity whereon
is timber for building said chapel
and necessary houses for glebe for
the use OF the present and future
ministers for which interest the
said hundred acres of land is given
forever" And soon frame chapel
was built.
| Addison Chapel and Rock Greek
Chapel were not the only missions
springing from the mother church
at Broad Greek, for in 1728, or about
that time, the mission Of Akkokeek
had come into being. The Rev. Mr..
Frazier, rector Of Broad Greek
Church, died in 1742 after pastor
ate Of 80 years. His bones are said
to rest beneath the chancel Of old
Broad Greek. As rector Of this
church he was succeeded by Henry
Addison, son of Thomas Addison,
and grandson of John Addison,
founder of the Addison family in
America. The old church was re-
built between l763 and l768, and
took the form It bears today.
Other Addisons followed as rec
tors of Broad Greek Church, and in
1893, Walter Dulaney Addison was
ordained a minister Of the Anglican
Church, and he was the first min
lister ordained by Bishop Thomas
John Claggett. He was also founder
of st. Johns Episcopal Church in
Georgetown, and was active in edu-
cational work. In 1900 he came to
Broad Creek Church as assistant
rector, and became rector in 1905.
Addison Came in 1867
The story Of Broad Creek Church
is so interviewer with that Of Oxon
Manor that both might well be
treated together. Thus 1t Is known
that John Addison came to Mary
; land in 1867. He was the son Of
the Rev. Launcelot Addison and a
brother of Launcelot Addison, dean
of Litchfield, and of the Rev. An
thony Addison, rector Of Abingdon
and chaplain to the Duke Of Marl-
! borough. He was uncle to Joseph
Addison OF Spectator fame. John
Addison had received in England
royal patent to lands in Mary
, lard extending from Piscataway
> Greek on the south to the Eastern
r Branch OF the Potomac on the
/. north and from the Potomac on
| the west to line about 4 miles
r west, comprising land estimated at
: 80 square miles, or about 10000
. acres. Arriving in Maryland he
+ took up his residence at or neal
;. Piscataway. But the site of his
!, dwelling here is unknown. He was
q devoted Oxford man, and the
name survives in Oxon Run,
pretty stream that pours into thu
the Potomac opposite Alexandra.
John Addison removed from Pts
Getaway and built the mansion
2 across from Alexandria, and gav
it the name Oxon Hall. From It
e elevation 1t was pleasant to viey
S Mount Vernon when the weathe
e was clear. Oxon Hall was com
s pletely destroyed by fire on Feb
- - ruary 6, 1895. Prior to this, how
! ever, about 1880, the estate passe'
"a into the possession of the Berr
: family, and in the hillside. over
r looking the river, may be seen relic
: of the burial vault Of this family.
Thomas Laws Retreat
In the Alexandria Gazette OF Feb
e ruary 7. 1895, at the time Of the firt
). the following account is printed:
4 when first discovered, small spo
= in the roof only was burning, but
= quickly spread. and in IS or 2
minutes the whole eastern heaven
were illuminated by, the contiagra
: tion-the fire raging furiously, tn
{ flames leaping high, while a hug
e volume of smoke settled over tn