Part 5

Rev. Townsend Dade, ordained by the Bishop of London in 1765, was the first minister of Christ Church, and it is presumed that as minister of the Parish he also officiated at the Falls Church. His salary was 17,280 pounds of tobacco, and 2,500 pounds were added to this for the deficiency of a glebe. He served as minister until 1778.

[Illustration: Dr. T. M. Talbott]

In November, 1766, the Vestry ordered a levy to be made upon the inhabitants of the parish of 31,185 pounds of tobacco, for the purpose of building two new churches of brick; one at the Falls, the other at Alexandria.

The new brick church which the Vestry decided to erect in place of the old wooden structure was built, according to reliable information, by Mr. James Wren, for about 600 pounds sterling. Bishop Meade states in his book on old churches of Virginia, that a most particular contract was made for him as also for James Parsons, the contractor for the Alexandria church.

The mortar was to be two-thirds lime and one-third sand; the shingles were to be of the best cypress or juniper and three-quarters of an inch thick. The contract for building Falls Church called for a gallery, but this was never put in.

The Alexandria church was begun in 1767 by James Parsons, 600 pounds sterling being the contract price. Parsons failed to complete his contract and the building was finished for an additional sum of 220 pounds sterling by Col. John Carlyle, and formally delivered February 27, 1773.

[Illustration: Mr. C. L. Blanton]

In 1770 a tract of about 500 acres was purchased from Daniel Jennings at 15 shillings per acre, and upon this in 1773 the Fairfax Vestry caused to be erected a glebe house, or rectory, with a dairy, meat house, barn, stable and corn house for 653 pounds sterling.

During the Revolutionary War, Falls Church is said to have been the recruiting headquarters of Col. Charles Broadwater, one of Fairfax's first patriots.

In 1775 there were in Virginia 95 parishes, 164 churches and chapels, and 91 clergymen. At the conclusion of the war for Independence only 72 parishes remained, and 34 of these had been deprived of ministerial help. Churches and chapels had gone to ruin; soldiers having turned them into barracks or stables.

In 1778 the Rev. Mr. Dade was succeeded as Parish minister by the Rev. 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 * * *