Historic Christ Church
Earliest parish records shed little light upon the spiritual life of the
infant settlement of Alexandria. First mention of services held in the
town turns up in the old Truro Parish vestry book, under date of June 4,
1753, when it was "ordered that the Rev. Mr. Charles Green do preach
every third Sunday."[122] Later entries in 1754 and 1756 respectively
for "building the desk at Alexandria"[123] and "to have seats made for
the Church at Alexandria"[124] are puzzling since no mention occurs for
any levies or appropriations for building or repairing. The inference
would seem that some individual had provided a meeting place for
services, though local tradition is firmly entrenched that a Chapel of
Ease stood on Pitt Street near Princess.
Fairfax Parish emerged in 1765 as a daughter of the mother parish of
Truro. Whatever previous arrangements for church attendance were
provided for in Alexandria, an increasing population now demanded a
more appropriate and commodious place of worship. James Wren,
gentleman, designed the church and a contract to build it was originally
let to one James Parsons in 1767 for the sum of L600. For some reason,
Parsons failed to fulfill his contract and in 1772 the vestry
appropriated an additional L220 and gave Colonel John Carlyle the task
of finishing the building.
Wren proved himself an able architect and Carlyle a great builder. No
cathedral in Europe conveys greater serenity than this little church.
Cherished by Alexandrians for one hundred and seventy-seven years, the
ancient interior expresses all the spiritual and sacred qualities of
man. The reredos is centered upon a Palladian window, included as an
element of the design. The window is flanked by the tablets for which
James Wren was paid eight pounds "to write" the Lord's Prayer, the
Creed, and the Golden Rule. Fluted pilasters frame the windows and the
tablets. A hexagonal wine-glass pulpit rising on its slender stem is
surmounted by a hexagonal canopy. The pews, originally square, were
divided in 1817. The balcony was added much later, but is in perfect
harmony with the earlier woodwork. The brick tower and interesting
"pepper pot" steeple were built in 1818.
In an old deed at Fairfax Court House, dated 1774, between John
Alexander of Stafford County, gentleman, of the one part, and Charles
Broadwater and Henry Gunnell, church wardens, of the other part,
Alexander, for and in consideration of the sum of one penny, current
money, gave to the parish:
All that piece or parcell of Land situate lying and Being near the
Town of Alexandria in the parish of Fairfax aforesaid where the new
Church built by James Parsons stands, containing one Acre, Beginning
at a locust post in a north west Corner from the northwest corner of
the Church standing on the said Land and at the Distance of Twenty
three and one half feet from the said Corner thence South Seventy
eight Degrees East and parallel to the north wall of the Church,
Twelve poles and Sixteen and a Quarter links, thence South 19 deg. W.
12 poles and 16 and 1/4 links, thence N. 75 deg. W. 12 poles and 16
and 1/4 links, thence N. 12 deg. E. 12 poles and 16 and 1/4 links to
the Beginning to have and to hold the aforesaid piece or parcell of
Land with all and Singular its Appurtenances unto them the said
Charles Broadwater and Henry Gunnell and their successors Church
Wardens of the said Parish of Fairfax forever, to and for the use and
Benefit of the said Parish, and the said John Alexander for himself
his Heirs Executors and Administrators the aforesaid piece or parcell
of Land against the right, Title interest, claim and Demand of him
the said John Alexander and his Heirs, and of any person claiming or
to claim by from or under him the said John Alexander or his Heirs,
to them the said Charles Broadwater and Henry Gunnell and their
Successors Church wardens of the said parish of Fairfax, to and for
the use of the said Parish of Fairfax, will warrent and for ever
Defend by these Presents.
In Testimony whereof he the said John Alexander hath hereunto set his
hand and affixed his Seal the Day and year aforesaid.
John Alexander [Seal]
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of I. Kirk, David Henley,
Rd. Harrison, Rob. H. Harrison.
Received this 10 day of October 1774 of the within named Charles
Broadwater and Henry Gunnell Church Wardens of Fairfax parish the
Consideration Money in the within Deed.
John Alexander
Witness I. Kirk, David Henley, Rd. Harrison, Rob. H. Harrison.
At a Court held for the County of Fairfax 20th March 1775 This deed
and Receipt was proved by the oath of David Henley, James Kirk and
Robert Hanson Harrison to be the Act and Deed of John Alexander and
ordered to be recorded.
Test P. WAGONER, Cl. Ct.
[Illustration: Christ Church where both Washington and Lee worshipped]
As early as 1762, General Washington was chosen vestryman for Truro
Parish and at the first election held in March 1765, for the newly
created Fairfax Parish (including Alexandria) he was elected to that
office. This development stemmed from the terms of an act of the
Virginia Assembly which set the boundaries in such a way that Mount
Vernon lay within the new parish. As repealed and revised four months
later, legislation returned Mount Vernon to Truro. Technically, then,
Washington was vestryman-elect in the new parish for less than three
months, yet his association with the Alexandria church was always close.
Even before the new church (later to be known as Christ) was finished
and delivered to the vestry, he had purchased pew No. 15, for which he
paid L36 10_s._, thought to be the highest price paid for any pew.
Pohick Church in Truro Parish was completed about the same time as
Christ Church in Alexandria. It was Washington's home church until after
the Revolution, when it was practically abandoned by the Episcopal
congregation. The General's habitual attendance at Christ Church
apparently dates from about April 1785, when he bound himself to pay an
annual pew rent of "five pounds, Virginia money."[125]
An anecdote told in Alexandria of how a group of girls tried to save the
silver marker from the Washington pew during the War Between the States
is worth repeating. The town was under Union jurisdiction. A group of
half-grown girls of whom the leaders were Molly Gregory (Mrs. Robert
Powell) and Connie [Constance] Lee (Mrs. George E. Peterkin, wife of
Bishop Peterkin) banded together to help the Confederate cause in any
way they could. One of their ideas was to go to Christ Church and remove
the silver plate marking Washington's pew and take it home for
safekeeping. No one was taken into their confidence. In very short order
the Yankee provost marshal arrived at Cassius Lee's house and demanded
the return the plate. Of course, Lee knew nothing whatever of the
removal, but he summoned his children, lined them up, and demanded if
any of them had any knowledge of the plate. There was silence for some
time. The provost marshal became threatening before admission was made
that the removal of the plate was not a theft, but had been taken for
safekeeping. The plate was returned to the church. The next day it
disappeared and nothing has ever been known of it since.
[Illustration: The Holy Interior of the old church]
Interesting and distinguished men have occupied the pulpit of Christ
Church, beginning with the Reverend Townsend Dade, rector (1765 to
1778); and including such men as David Griffith (1780-1789), Bryan
Fairfax (1790-1792), and Thomas Davis (1792-1802). The last named
officiated at General Washington's funeral. But in the second year of
Davis' ministry, President Washington had received the following
solicitation:
Alexandria. 22^d Feb^y 1793
Sir
The Episcopal Congregation of this Town and Neighborhood, being
extremely pleased with the induction of that Respectable Character
and accomplished Preacher, Mr. Davis, wish to compleat their
satisfaction by the acquisition of an Organ.
As no one can be more desirous of obtaining it than myself, I have
been requested to undertake the Collection of Subscriptions; and I
have been instructed to leave a place at the head of my Paper for a
Name which has always been foremost in every undertaking both of
private and public munificence.
I think it necessary to mention my being only an Agent in this
business, that, should there be any impropriety in the present
application, no more than a due share of it may be imparted to me. I
may have been mislead by the Opinions of others, and seduced by my
own Eagerness to accomplish a favorite purpose, but I beg of you Sir,
to be persuaded that no Earthly consideration should tempt me to
violate, wittingly, those Sentiments of perfect respect with which I
am
Sir
Your most obliged & obedient Servant
Sm Hansen of Sam^l
Docket: From
Col^o Sam^l Hanson
22^d Feb. 1793[126]
The letter was long in passage, but it elicited the desired result the
following April. The President entirely approved this measure and
affixed his name to the paper, regretful at the same time that public
subscriptions of all sorts limited the size of his contribution.
This instrument, now preserved in the Smithsonian Institution, has had
an engaging history. Built in England in 1700, it was first used in the
colonial church at Port Royal and from thence was acquired for
Alexandria. After considerable service at Christ Church, it went to the
Episcopal church at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and about the middle
of the nineteenth century passed to St. Thomas Episcopal Church at
Hancock, Maryland. It was presented to the Smithsonian by the vestry of
the latter church in 1907.
Christ Church is proud of its association with the Reverend William
Meade, afterward the Virginia bishop of beloved memory. His pastorate
was short, from 1811 to 1813, but his fame as preacher, gentleman, and
scholar forecast his later attainments. The Reverend Charles B. Danna
was another nineteenth century divine who faithfully served the
congregation. Dr. Danna occupied the pulpit from 1834 to 1860, when he
left to take a church at Port Gibson in Mississippi. He later removed to
Natchez, Mississippi, in 1866 to be rector of Trinity Church. He was a
trusted friend of Mrs. George Washington Parke Custis and Mrs. Robert E.
Lee, and he baptized the children at Arlington House. It was during his
pastorate that Robert E. Lee was confirmed on July 17, 1853, by Bishop
Johns. When word was received in Alexandria of Dr. Danna's death, in
1873, Christ Church was draped in mourning.
There is an odd and sad sequel to Dr. Danna's pastorate in Natchez. Some
years ago there occurred an astounding and mysterious death in Natchez,
Mississippi. A very prominent woman whose father had represented his
country at a foreign court was found in her own home brutally murdered.
Suspicion at once fell upon her nearest neighbors, a man and a woman,
eccentric characters, who shared the same house. They were arrested and
tried for murder. Their house immediately attained notoriety as "Goat
Castle" and was so known over the United States from the manner in which
the inmates lived. The strange fashion in which dogs, goats, chickens,
or any animal on the place was made welcome in the drawing room was very
queer and gave cause for the name.
[Illustration: The open door marks Robert E. Lee's pew. Here he came for
spiritual guidance]
The murdered woman had objected to the presence of her neighbors' pets
on her place, especially the goats, which were prying and curious, as
well as other tame animals which belonged by right in the barnyard, but
preferred the drawing room. Ill feeling sprang up, quarrels, lawsuits,
all the dreadful sequel of a neighbors' feud. At the trial
circumstantial evidence piled up and up. It was not enough for
conviction. The inmates of "Goat Castle" were acquitted. Even so, black
distrust was their portion from many of their fellow townsmen.
Some people from Alexandria were making the Natchez pilgrimage and came
unwarned upon "Goat Castle." Lovely strains of music could be heard,
coming from an old piano, sometimes improvised, sometimes a bit of Bach,
Mozart, Chopin, played with much feeling. As the strangers approached
the house they were shocked at the dilapidation--sash missing in the
windows, doors off hinges, boards decayed and missing from the house and
porch. Embarrassed, they hesitated to enter when to the door came a man,
the musician. Speaking in a quiet voice, he asked them in. Upon the
piano a large hen was standing, perfectly at ease. The deterioration of
the interior was more pronounced than that of the outside--springs
bursting through upholstery, beds unmade and without linen, neither
carpets upon the floors nor curtains at the windows. Animals wandered in
and out at will. Yet upon the walls hung some portraits and the
furniture had been good. There were many books. The man was obviously
cultivated in his speech and manner. The host collected the stipend for
entering the place and proceeded to show the tourists the house, which
was interesting, and his inventions, which were not; a collection of
senseless, pitiful, useless things.
Upstairs, and downstairs, into this room and that they were taken to be
shown an "invention." Each room was more squalid than the last. Finally
the end in sight, escape near at hand, the gentleman said, "I'll show
you something," and took the Alexandrians into a room opening off the
hall. There was a large mahogany bookcase, sealed by a court order,
which the host opened at will, carefully replacing what he took out
after it had been examined. One of the strangers, flipping the pages of
an old book, saw the signature of Robert E. Lee, Alexandria, Virginia.
Startled, she asked where the book had come from. "It was my father's,"
was the simple reply. "That is my father," pointing to an old oil
portrait of a clergyman. "He lived in Alexandria. He was rector of
Christ Church."
Not long after this a Negro, arrested in the West, but formerly employed
in Natchez, was purported to have confessed to the murder for which
these people had been tried and acquitted.
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