Mr. West, who served for a few months, and he in turn was succeeded by
Rev. David Griffith who it is recorded exercised his ministry with
fidelity in his Parish, preaching both at Alexandria and at Falls Church
from 1780 to 1789. He had been chaplain in the 3rd Virginia Regiment
during the revolution and was to the time of his death, in 1789, a close
personal friend of Washington.
[Illustration: Mr. Geo. W. Hawxhurst]
From 1790 to 1792 Rev. Bryan Fairfax directed the affairs of Fairfax
Parish, selecting for his assistant Rev. Bernard Page. Before the
revolution, being an ardent royalist, he endeavored to dissuade from the
war with the mother country his friend George Washington whose
confidence and esteem he continued to enjoy to the last. Bryan Fairfax
was the son of William Fairfax of Belvoir. He was ordained to the
ministry in 1786 by Bishop Seabury. His title as Eighth Lord Fairfax was
confirmed to him by the English House of Lords in 1800.
The civil functions of the Vestry ceased in 1784. Thereafter, in the
struggle following the disestablishment, having to depend upon voluntary
contributions, many churches succumbed.
It was about this period, or not long after the death of Dr. Griffith in
1789, that Falls Church was abandoned as a place of worship, fell into a
state of dilapidation, and was not used for many years. Chiefly at the
expense of Henry Fairfax, grandson of Rev. Bryan Fairfax, formerly its
rector, the building was repaired and young Mr. Minor, as a lay reader,
organized a congregation of worshippers.
[Illustration: Mr. W. W. Biggs]
In 1827 Bishop Meade visited this church and the description of it in
his book "Old Families and Churches of Virginia" will be of interest.
"The exercises of the Seminary being over, I next directed my steps to
the Falls Church, so called from its vicinity to one of the falls on the
Potomac River. It is about eight miles from Alexandria, and the same
from Georgetown. It is a large oblong building, and like that near Mount
Vernon, has two rows of windows, being doubtless designed for galleries
all around, though none were ever put there. It was deserted as a house
of worship by Episcopalians about forty years ago. About that period,
for the first, and it is believed for the last time, it was visited by
Bishop Madison. Since then it has been used by any who were disposed to
occupy it as a place of worship, and the doors and windows being open,
itself standing on the common highway, it has been entered at pleasure
by travellers on the road and animals of every kind. Some years since,
the attention of the professors of our Seminary, and of some of the
students was drawn towards it, and occasional services performed there.
This led to its partial repair."
[Illustration: Mr. C. C. Walters]
Bishop Meade in this account of his visit to the old church states that
he visited the same day an interesting school for young ladies at Capt.
Henry Fairfax's where he delivered an address to the students. This
school was located near Fairfax Court House. Mrs. Chichester, widow of
the late Major John H. Chichester and a communicant at the present time
of Falls Church, was a pupil of this seminary before the death of Capt.
Fairfax, and recalls the incidents connected with his death in the
Mexican War and his burial near the old church door 57 years ago.
From the time Bishop Meade preached in the old church in 1827 to the
beginning of the war of 1861 much that might be of interest is lost with
the records of the Parish.
The damage to the church by soldiers during the civil war was later
repaired at the expense of the United States Government at a cost of
about $1,300. None of its ancient furniture has been preserved, the gray
stone urn-shaped baptismal font alone remaining.
[Illustration: Mr. J. W. Garner]
The rectors of Falls Church since the civil war have been Bishop Horatio
Southgate, Rev. John McGill, Rev. Frank Page, Rev. J. Cleveland Hall,
Rev. R. A. Castleman, Rev. Dr. John McGill again, and the present rector
Rev. George S. Somerville.
The present vestry book begins November 27, 1873. The vestrymen for the
year 1904 are S. D. Tripp, S. W.; J. T. Unverzagt, J. W.; C. A.
Marshall, Wm. E. Parker, A. H. Barbor, E. A. Ballard.
In connection with the name, it may be of interest to state that,
previous to the Revolution, there being no bishop in Virginia, church
buildings were not consecrated, generally being called after the parish
in which situated, or from some other geographical name; hence the New
Church, the Upper Church, the Falls Church. The simple name suggesting
only its location as first bestowed upon the church near the Falls has
now, after the lapse of years, become irrevocably fixed. Around it
cluster so many memories of the early days that the name "Falls Church"
must continue unchanged to the last.
[Illustration: Town Sergeant John N. Gibson]
Extracts from Records of Vestry Meetings.
June 10, 1733:
Capt. Francis Aubrey, towards building the chapel above Goose
Creek, 2,500 pounds of tobacco.
October 13, 1734:
To Mr. Robt. Blackburn, for his plans for building church, 16,750
pounds of tobacco.
To John Trammell, for grubbing a place for the church, 320 pounds
of tobacco.
To Jos. Johnson, to read at the chapels, 1,300 pounds of tobacco.
November 18, 1735:
Jos. Johnson, Clk. of the New Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.
Thos. (?) Bennitt, sexton at the New Church, 150 pounds of tobacco.
Oliver Roe, sexton Pohick Church, 300 pounds of tobacco.
August 19, 1736:
At a Vestry held for Truro Parish this 19th day of August, 1736;
present Jeremiah Bronaugh, Ch. Warden; Denis McCarty, Augustine
Washington, Robt. Osborn, John Thurman, Wm. Godfrey, Jas. Baxter,
and Thos. Lewis, Vestrymen.
[Illustration: Mr J. C. Elliott's Store]
Mr. Cha. Green being recommended to this vestry by Capt. Augustine
Washington as a person qualified to officiate as a minister in this
parish, as soon as he shall receive orders from His Grace, the
Bishop of London, to qualify himself for the same, it is,
therefore,
Ordered by this Vestry that as soon as the said Green has qualified
himself as aforesaid he be received and entertained as Minister of
the said parish, and the said Vestry do humbly recommend said Cha.
Green to the Right Honorable Thos. Lord Fairfax, for his letters of
recommendation and presentation to his Grace, the said Lord Bishop
of London, to qualify himself as aforesaid.
August 8,----:
At a vestry held for Truro Parish the 8th of August, for appointing
processioners.
Ordered, That John Trammell and John Harle procession all the
patented lands between Difficult Run and Broad Run, and that they
perform the same sometime in the month of October or November,
next, and report their proceedings according to law.
Ordered, That Anthony Hampton and Wm. Moore procession all the
patented lands between Broad Run and the South Side of Goose Creek,
as far as the fork of Little River, and that they perform the same
sometime in the month of October or November, next, and report
their proceedings according to law.
[Illustration: Miss Ada Rhodes]
October 6, 1740:
Nicholas Carroll, sexton Pohick Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.
Jas. Bennitt, sexton at the New Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.
John Aubrey, sexton at Goose Creek, 400 pounds of tobacco.
May 21, 1745:
At a vestry held for Truro Parish, May 21, 1745, present Rev. Mr.
Cha. Green, minister, and church wardens and vestrymen.
Ordered, that a church be built at or near the spring nigh Mr.
Hutchinson's on the mountain road, of the following dimensions: 40
feet long, 32 feet wide and 13 feet pitch. To be weather boarded
with 3/4-inch feather-edge plank, quartered and beaded; shingled
with 18-inch pine shingles; sawed frame, and frame work ceiled with
quartered plank, beaded, and floored with 1-1/4-inch plank, with
proper cornice under the eaves, with pulpit, desk, communion table,
etc. With doors, windows & seats, after the manner of the Upper
Church, and all the proper facings and mouldings; and window
shutters, to be shingled with single tiers, weather boarded with
eights, and filled with tens or brads; locks and hinges that are
necessary for the same.
Ordered, That the Clerk of the Vestry prepare deeds for Mr. Andrew
Hutchinson conveying two acres of land to this Parish for house of
the Church to be built thereon, and church yard.
Hugh Thomas undertakes to complete the aforesaid church and to
enclose it by the last day of October, next, and to finish and
complete it by the last day of October, then next following, for
24,500 pounds of tobacco, to be paid him at two payments, and the
clerk of the vestry is ordered to prepare articles of agreement and
bond for the performance of the same.
CHA. GREEN, }
JOHN WEST, } Ch. Wardens.
Teste: { Wm. Henry Terrett,
{ Clk. Vestry.
October 12, 1747:
Philip Howell, sexton, Pohick, 400 pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.
Mary McDowell, sexton, Goose Creek, 400 pounds of tobacco.
Wm. Grove, sexton, New Church, 172 pounds of tobacco.
[Illustration: Mr. W. W. Kinsley]
October 10, 1748:
Bennitt, clk., 1,200 pounds of tobacco.
Wm. Chautneys, clk. at the New Church, 1,200 pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton at Upper Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.
Alexander, sexton at Goose Creek, 400 pounds of tobacco.
Wm. Grove, sexton at New Church, 400 pounds of tobacco.
October 10, 1749:
Truro Parish divided.--Upper Parish called Cameron.
John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 460 pounds of tobacco.
[Illustration: Mr. H. A. Fellows]
February 19, 1749-50:
Present: Rev. Mr. Cha. Green, Minister, Mr. Hugh West, Mr. Geo.
Mason, Mr. Jas. Hamilton, Mr. Cha. Broadwater, Mr. Danl. McCarty,
Wm. Payne, Abra. Barnes, Thos. Wren, Robt. Boggers, and John
Turley;
Ordered: That an addition be built to the Upper Church according to
the plan produced to the Vestry; and Cha. Broadwater, gent.,
undertakes to do the same and finish and complete it by the laying
of the next parish levy, for the sum of 12,000 pounds of tobacco,
which is then to be levied for him.
October 9, 1749:
John Wiber Danty, clk. at Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton, ditto, 460 pounds of tobacco.
Jacob Remy, for paling in the New Church, making horse blocks and
tarring church, etc., our proportionable part, 1,950 pounds of
tobacco.
Ordered: That the Vestry do meet the third Monday in February next,
at the Glebe house, in order to see what repairs are wanted to it
and the New Church, and the Church Wardens are ordered to give
notice to workmen to appear there to undertake the work and also to
repair the Pohick Church and the Vestry House.
October 8, 1750:
John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton Upper Church, 460 pounds of tobacco.
[Illustration: Residence of Mr. G. A. L. Merrifield]
October 14, 1751:
John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church for 7 months attendance, 581
pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
October 2, 1752:
John Wiber Danty, clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton, Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
Ordered: That the clerk of the Upper Church read prayers every
intervening Sunday, and that he be allowed 1,200 pounds of tobacco
per annum for his salary.
Mr. Cha. Broadwater and Mr. Abraham Barnes are appointed Church
Wardens for this parish for the ensuing year.
October 22, 1753:
Mary Bennitt, sexton at the Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
John Wiber Danty, clerk at the Upper Church, 1,100 pounds of
tobacco.
November 22, 1754:
Wm. Donaldson, Clk. Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco.
Mary Bennitt, sexton at the Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
September 17, 1755:
Ordered: That the several tracts of land that have their
beginnings between Hunting Creek and the Potomac, the road that
leads from Aubrey's Ferry to the Upper Church, and the road that
leads from Cameron to the Upper Church, be processioned sometime in
the month of December, next, and that John Dalton, Thos. Harrison,
John Hunter and Nathan'l Smith attend to see the same performed,
and that they take an account of their proceedings therein and
return the same to the next Vestry after the same shall be
performed.
[Illustration: Cottage of Mr. G. A. L. Merrifield]
November 27, 1755:
Wm. Donaldson, Clk. at Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco. James
Palmer, sexton at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
November 29, 1756:
Mr. Lumley, Clk. at Upper Church, 1,000 pounds of tobacco. James
Palmer, sexton, Upper Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
November 28, 1757:
Jas. Palmer, sexton at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
November 27, 1758:
Jas. Palmer, sexton at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
November 12, 1759:
Thos. Lewis, Clk. at Falls Church, 1,050 pounds of tobacco. Gerard
Trammell, sexton, at Falls Church, 560 pounds of tobacco.
[Illustration: Mr. Frank M. Thompson]
October 25, 1762:
Ordered that Geo. Washington, Esq., be chosen and appointed one of
the Vestrymen of this parish in the room of Wm. Peake, gent.,
deceased.
Ordered that the sexton at Falls Church be allowed 560 pounds of
tobacco.
October 3, 1763:
At a Vestry held for Truro Parish, October 3, 1763, present: Rev.
Mr. Green, minister; Wm. Payne, jun'r., and Henry Gunnell, Ch.
Wardens; Geo. Wm. Fairfax, Thos. Wren, Wm. Payne, Abra. Barnes,
Cha. Broadwater, John West, and Geo. Mason, Vestrymen.
[Illustration: Mr. Thomas Hillier]
TRURO PARISH.
DR., Lbs.
Tobacco.
To Revd. Mr. Green, minister 17,280
Sexton at Pohick Church (Eliz Parce) 560
Sexton at Falls Church (Gerard Trammell) 560
Sexton at Alexandria (John Rhoads) 500
John Barry, Clk. 3,000
John West, Junr. Clk. Vestry 500
John West, Junr. Amt. for providing-Elem'ts etc. 1,200
Matthew Bradley, for support of his son 1,000
Jos. Wilson, towards support of himself and wife 500
Robt. Mills, towards his support 630
Elizabeth Palmer, for support of her idiot son,
(to be laid up for her use by Church Wrdns.) 1,000
John Posey, for 11 parish levies overchd. last year 242
Edwd. Bates, for his levies the two last years, (Tho' a Patroller) 48
Gerard Trammell, constable, one levy overchd. last year 22
Philip Trammell, patroller, one levy overchd. last year 22
Saml. Russell, towards his support until October, 1764 1,000
Eliza. Young, for boarding Charlotte Lindsay 2 mo. 1 £. 10 s.
Saml. Conner, for assistance to Saml. Russell 500
Hugh West, Deputy Atty. on acct. 913
Grafton Kirk, on acct. 600
Peter Waggner, Clk. Cur. on acct. 837
Tobacco levied towards building Falls Church,
to be sold for cash by the Church Wardens
for the best price they can get 30,000
£ s d.
Dr. Jas. Lawrie for Mason and Jane Evans 4 7 6
" " " " Eleanor Swallow 700 5 7 6
" " " " Sparrow 0 7 5
John Muir, on acct 3 17 4-1/2
_____________________
61,614 15 9 10-1/2
To Acct. of Collection of 61,614 lbs. tobc. 3,696
______
Total 65,310
To the fraction in collectors' hands 1,549
______
66,859
______
Truro Parish Cr. by 1807 tithables at 37 lbs.
tobc. on acct. poll 66,859
______
[Illustration: Mr. J. S. Riley]
Ordered: That the Clerk of the Vestry proportion the parish levy
when he shall receive the list of tithables.
Ordered: That Geo. Wm. Fairfax, & Geo. Washington, Esqs., be
appointed Church Wardens for the ensuing year.
Ordered: That the Vestry meet at Alexandria on the third Tuesday
in March, next, in order to agree with workmen to undertake the
building a church at or near the old Falls Church, and that the
Church Wardens advertise the same in the Virginia and Maryland
Gazettes, to be continued six weeks, and that it will be then
expected of each workman to produce a plan and estimate of the
expense.
CHA. GREEN, }
G. W. FAIRFAX. }C. W.
Truly Recorded:
Teste--John West, junr.,
Cl. Vestry.
[Illustration: Mr. O. H. Billingsley]
March 28, 1763:
At a Vestry of Truro Parish held at the Falls Church March 28,
1763; present: Henry Gunnell, Wm. Payne, jr., Ch. Wardens; John
West, Wm. Payne, Chas. Broadwater, Thos. Wren, Abra. Barnes, Dan'l
McCarty, Robt. Boggers, and Geo. Washington; who being there met to
examine into the state of the said church, greatly in decay and
want of repair, and likewise whether the same shall be repaired or
a new one built, and whether at the same place or removed to a more
convenient one, and likewise to view the addition built by Mr.
Chas. Broadwater, and what he hath been deficient in the work.
Resolved: It is the opinion of this Vestry that the Old Church is
rotten and unfit for repair, but that a new church be built at the
same place.
[Illustration: Mr. A. O. Von Herbulis]
Resolved: That Jas. Wren and Owen Williams do view the work to be
done by Mr. Broadwater on the new addition, that is, the price of
glazing three windows, plaistering the said house, together with
the materials necessary for the same, and make report to the next
Vestry.
Ordered: That the Clerk of the Vestry advertise in the Virginia and
Maryland Gazettes for workmen to meet at the church on the 29th day
of August, next, if fair, if not the next fair day, to undertake
the building of a brick church to contain 1,600 feet on the floor,
with a suitable gallery & bring plan of the church and price,
according to the same.
Ordered: That the Church Wardens employ workmen to repair the
windows of the north side & the east end of the old church & repair
the shutters of the new addition.
HENRY GUNNELL,
WM. PAYNE.
(N. B.) This Vestry was held when I was sick and could not
attend--above orders were sent as above, signed by Messrs. Gunnell
and Payne, and I thought fit to record the same, tho in point of
time it should have been before the last one.
JOHN WEST, junr.
[Illustration: Mr. Andrew M. Smith]
April 26, 1765:
Vestry records of this date state that Truro Parish had been
divided from Col. Washington's mill to John Monroe's and thence to
Difficult Run, the upper parish called Fairfax.
February 3, 1766:
In the record of a Vestry meeting held for Truro Parish at Wm.
Gardner's the 3rd and 4th of February, 1766, is the following: It
appearing from an order of the Vestry bearing date the 25th day of
March, 1763, that there was a deficiency in the work which ought to
have been done on the Falls Church, by Mr. Chas. Broadwater, and
that persons were appointed to view the same and report and no
report appearing upon the records of this parish, it is ordered
that the Church Wardens do inquire into the same and report
accordingly. [Geo. Washington was present at this meeting. Ed.]
[Illustration: Major Jos. T. Hiett]
July 10, 1766:
At a Vestry held for Truro Parish July 10, 1766, Mr. Edward Payne,
one of the Church Wardens, having reported to this Vestry that he
had applied to the persons formally appointed to view the work
which ought to have been done on the Falls Church by Mr. Chas.
Broadwater, and that they denied having any order to view the same
and refused to concern themselves;
Ordered: That Thos. Price do view the work done to the Falls Church
and report what deficiency appears in the same, and that Mr. Edward
Payne do apply to the Vestry of Fairfax Parish to appoint a workman
to view the same and that the said do report as aforesaid, and that
Mr. Edward Payne attend the viewing on behalf of this parish and to
apply to the said Vestry to appoint one of their members to attend
the same on behalf of their parish.
February 23, 1767:
At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at the Glebe the 23rd day of
February, 1767, at which Geo. Washington was present, it was
ordered: A report being made to this Vestry by Jas. Wren and Thos.
Price, two workmen empowered by a formal order of this Vestry to
view the work done to the Falls Church and to report what
deficiency appeared in the same, etc., by which report there
appears to be a deficiency of 9 £ 14 s. 6 p.
Ordered: That the Church Wardens of this parish apply to Maj. Chas.
Broadwater, the undertaker of said work, for the said sum, and
account with the Vestry of Fairfax Parish for their proportion of
the same when it is received.
Ordered: That a Vestry House be built at the New Church of the
dimensions and in manner following * * (Capt. Ed. Payne agreeing
with the Vestry to build said house).
[Illustration: Mr. George Stambaugh]
September 9, 1768:
At a Vestry held for Truro Parish September 9, 1768, at which Geo.
Washington was present, the following entries appear:
That the Vestry being convened at the New Church in order to view
and examine the work, and having done so do find the same completed
and finished according to the articles of agreement between Capt.
Ed. Payne, the undertaker * * *
Ordered: That Col. Geo. Mason pay him the sum of 193 pounds out of
the money in his hands belonging to the parish the same being the
last payment due to the said Payne, for the said church. (This was
probably known as Payne's Church; the church near the Fairfax C.
H.)
November 28, 1768:
At a Vestry held for Truro Parish November 28, 1768, at which Geo.
Washington was present, it was ordered: That Geo. Washington, Esq.,
pay to Alex. Henderson the sum of £. 8, being the balance of £ 9 14
s., 6 p., received from Maj. Chas. Broadwater for a deficiency on
the Falls Church.
February 24, 1784:
At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at Colchester, the 22nd day of
February, 1784, John Gibson, gent., is elected for a member of this
Parish in the room of his Excellency General Washington, who has
signified his resignation in a letter to Dan'l McCarty, esq.
[Illustration: The Old Church from a war-time Photograph]
Falls Church in the Civil War.
In May, 1861, the Union troops moved into Virginia and occupied
Arlington Heights and Alexandria. On June 1 an engagement at Fairfax
Court House between a company of Union cavalry and Confederate troops
resulted in the loss of six Union and twenty Confederate soldiers. The
Union forces under General McDowell occupied the town of Fairfax about
the middle of July, inaugurating the first Bull Run Campaign. The battle
of Bull Run was fought July 21, 1861.
After the first battle of Bull Run, a systematic plan for the defense of
the National Capital began to take shape. At that time the commanding
heights four miles west of Alexandria and six miles from Washington were
occupied by the Confederates, Falls Church being the headquarters of
General Longstreet.
In October, 1861, the hills were again taken possession of by the Union
troops. The system of works for the defense of Washington on the south
began with Fort Willard below Alexandria, and terminated with Fort Smith
opposite Georgetown, comprising in all twenty-nine forts and eleven
supporting batteries, besides Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy at the
Virginia end of Chain Bridge, with their five batteries of field guns.
[Illustration: Mr. Charles A. Marshall]
Falls Church was the most advanced post of General McDowell's corps,
when on August 3, 1861, a correspondent of Harper's Weekly writing from
here to that paper described the old Church as it appeared at the
beginning of the Civil war as follows:
"On this page we illustrate Fall's Church, Fairfax County, Virginia,
from a sketch by our special artist with General McDowell's 'corps
d'armee.' This is the most advanced post of our army in Fairfax County,
and has been the scene of several picket skirmishes. Falls Church was
built in 1709, and rebuilt, as an inscription on the wall informs us, by
the late "Lord" Fairfax, whose son, the present "Lord" Fairfax, is
supposed to be serving in the rebel army. The title of "Lord," we may
observe, is still given to the representative of the family. The
inscription on the old church reads as follows:
[Illustration: Mr. John S. Garrison]
'Henry Fairfax, an accomplished gentlemen, an upright magistrate, a
sincere Christian, died in command of the Fairfax Volunteers at
Saltillo, Mexico, 1847. But for his munificence this church might still
have been a ruin.'
Service was held in the old church two Sundays since, Rev. Dr. Mines,
Chaplain of Second Maine Regiment, officiating, and most of the troops
in the neighborhood being present."