USA > Virginia > Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia, Vol. II > Part 28
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ARTICLE LXIX.
Fairfax Parish, Fairfax County.
THE town of Alexandria was at first called Hunting Creek Warehouse, sometimes Bell Haven, and consisted of a small esta- blishment at that place. Its growth was encouraged by successive Acts of the Legislature, establishing semi-annual fairs and granting certain privileges to those who attended them. In the year 1762, it was enlarged by the laying off of numerous lots on the higher ground, belonging to Dade, West, and the Alexanders, after which it improved rapidly, so that at the close of the last or beginning of the present century its population was ten thousand, and its com- merce greater than it now is. So promising was it at the close of the war, that its claims were weighed in the balance with those of Washington as the seat of the National Government. It is thought that, but for the unwillingness of Washington to seem partial to Virginia, Alexandria would have been the chosen spot, and that on the first range of hills overlooking the town the public buildings would have been erected. Whether there had been any public worship or church at Alexandria previous to this enlargement of it, and the great impulse thus given to it, does not appear from the vestry-book, though it is believed that there was. But soon after this, in the year 1764, Fairfax parish is established, and measures taken for the promotion of the Church in this place. The vestry- book commences in 1765. At that time there were two churches in the new parish of Fairfax,-one at the Falls, called, as the pre- sent one is, Little Falls Church; the position of the other-the Lower Church-is not known. It may have been an old one at Alexandria.
Among the first acts of the vestry was the repairing of the two old churches in the parish, at a cost of more than thirty-two thou- sand pounds of tobacco. In the year 1766, it is determined to build two new churches,-one at the Little Falls, very near the old one, and one in Alexandria, to contain twenty-four hundred square feet, and to be high-pitched so as to admit of galleries. Mr. James Wrenn agrees to build the former, and Mr. James Parsons the other, for about six hundred pounds each. A most particular contract is
CRUMP. CL 4
CHRIST CHURCH, ALEXANDRIA, VA.
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made for them. The mortar is to have two-thirds of lime and one of sand,-the very reverse of the proportion at this day, and which ac- counts for the greater durability of ancient walls. The shingles were to be of the best cypress or juniper, and three-quarters of an inch thick, instead of our present half-inch ones. Mr. Parsons was allowed to add ten feet to the upper part of the church on his own account, and to pay himself by their sale, on certain conditions. He commenced his work, but was unable to finish it. It lingered for some years, until, in 1772, Mr. John Carlisle undertakes it, and completes it in 1773. The ten pews are now sold, and General Washington, though having just been engaged in the erection of Mount Vernon Church, which was finished the same year, and having a pew therein, gives the highest price for one in Christ Church, which was occupied by him and his family during his life, and has been by some of his name and family ever since. The gallery was not put up until the year 1787, at which time the pews were balloted for. The steeple is of modern construction. A gallery never was erected in the Little Falls Church. The following notice of my visit to this church in 1827 will tell something of its history :-
"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 brick 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 toward it, and occasional services performed there. This led to its partial repair. The most successful effort in its behalf was made by one of those devoted youths who has given himself to Africa. Young Mr. Minor, of Fredericksburg, (then a student at the Seminary,) undertook the task of lay reader in this place, and by his untiring zeal and most affection- ate manners soon collected a large Sunday-school, in the conduct of which he was aided by some of his fellow-students of kindred spirit. In losing Mr. Minor (when he went to Africa) the parents and children thought they had lost their all; but Providence raised up others, and doubtless will continue to raise up as many as are needed. Our Seminary will surely furnish the supply that is called for. The house of which we are speak- ing has recently been more thoroughly repaired, and is now, as to outward appearance, strength, and comfort, one of our most desirable temples of religion, bidding fair to survive successive generations of those unworthy structures which are continually rising up and falling down throughout VOL. II .- 17
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our land. On Saturday and Sunday, assisted by several of our ministers, I performed pastoral and episcopal duties in this church. On the latter day, in the midst of an overflowing congregation, I confirmed six persons and administered the Holy Communion. On the evening of this day, I visited an interesting school of young ladies at Mr. Henry Fairfax's, and sought to make some improvement of my visit by addressing a discourse especially to the young ones."
Mr. Henry Fairfax was the grandson of the Rev. Bryan Fairfax, of whom we shall soon speak as the minister of this church. He inherited the generous and disinterested spirit of his grandfather. It was chiefly at his expense that the church was repaired, and by his liberality the minister supported, when another than the pro- fessors was employed. Being a graduate of West Point, he felt that he owed his country a debt, which could only be discharged by engaging in the late Mexican war, and, in opposition to the wishes and judgment of his friends and relatives, raised a company for that purpose; but scarcely had he reached the scene of action before he fell a victim to the climate, leaving a devoted family and congre- gation to feel and mourn his loss.
While on the subject of churches, it may be as well to mention that at a more recent date a neat frame church has been built at Fairfax Court-House, under the auspices of the Rev. Mr. Lock- wood, who for some years officiated there as well as at the Falls Church. The Rev. Templeman Brown had officiated at the Falls Church and at the court-house for some time before Mr. Lockwood's ministry, and has again been serving them for a number of years, since Mr. Lockwood's relinquishment.
We proceed now to such notices as we possess of the ministers of Fairfax parish. For these we are indebted to the vestry-records. The Rev. Townshend Dade was ordained for this parish by the Bishop of London in 1765, and entered upon his duties in the following year or perhaps sooner. It is more than probable that he was the son of Mr. Townshend Dade, who appears on the list of the first vestry, or of Mr. Baldwin Dade, who was a vestryman at a later date, and owner in part of the land on which Alexandria was built. We are sorry to be unable to make a favourable report of the Rev. Mr. Dade. In the year 1768, the vestry discuss the question of examining into some alleged misconduct of his, and decide against it, five members entering their dissent from the decision. In the year 1777, a committee is appointed to wait upon him to know why he neglects his congregation. Some months after, the committee is enlarged and directed to take further steps. The result was his
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resignation and relinquishment of the glebe and rectory. In the same year the Rev. Spence Grayson is a candidate for the parish, but the Rev. Mr. West, probably from Maryland, is preferred. He continues until February of 1779, and resigns. The Rev. David Griffith, then chaplain in the army, and formerly minister of Shel- burne parish, and well known to the people, is elected, though he does not appear on the vestry-book as minister until October, 1780. He continued to be its minister until his death in 1789. Of him we shall speak more fully after our brief notice of the succession of the ministers of this parish. The Rev. Bryan Fairfax suc- ceeded him in 1790. He was ordained deacon in 1786 by Bishop Seabury. Mr. Bryan Fairfax had been a vestryman of the parish and delegate to the Virginia Conventions .for some time before this. Whether it was that his health was delicate from the first, or whatever was the cause, he wished an assistant in the parish, and the vestry passed an order allowing him to invite the Rev. Mason Locke Weems, or any one else whom he might choose, to act as such. Mr. Fairfax made a very different selection, and called the Rev. Bernard Page, giving to him all the emoluments of the parish. Mr. Page was very de- cidedly of the then rising evangelical school in the Church of Eng- land, and a very zealous preacher of its doctrines. I doubt not but that Mr. Fairfax sympathized with the principles of that school. In a sermon of his which I have published, he sets forth the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ in such a way as was not common in that day. In the year 1792, he resigns his charge in a letter stating his reasons, which is not entered on the record, though the most flattering letter of the vestry, regretting their loss of him, is. I am not aware how long he lived after this. His resi- dence during the latter years of his life was at a place called Mount Eagle, a short distance beyond the Hunting Creek Bridge. He was the father of the late Ferdinando Fairfax and Thomas Fairfax, the latter of whom inherited his empty title of Lord Fairfax, also of the late Mrs. Charles Catlett, by a second marriage. I am not aware of other children, though there may have been. I have, in another place, stated that he endeavoured to dissuade his friend and neighbour, General Washington, from the war with England. The General, in his letter to him, deals most gently and respectfully with him. He was the son of his old friend and neighbour, George William Fairfax, of Belvoir, and the brother of the wife of Law- rence Washington, elder brother of the General. The Rev. Mr. Fairfax acted with such prudence, if he did not see cause to change
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his sentiments, as not to forfeit the friendship of Washington and of the patriots in Fairfax parish, but was, as we have seen, chosen to be their minister. He has left behind him many worthy adhe- rents to our Church, though some few have varied from it. At the resignation of Mr. Fairfax the Rev. Thomas Davis was chosen. He continued its minister until 1806, when he removed to Hungar's parish, on the Eastern Shore, where he died. Mr. Davis had ministered in various places throughout Virginia, and, though a man of temperate habits and correct life by comparison with too many of our clergy, was not calculated by his preaching or conversation to promote the spiritual welfare of any people. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Gibson, of Maryland. Previous to his removal to Alexandria, and while the church was vacant, the vestry invited the Rev. Mr. McQuerr a Scotch minister of the Presbyterian Church, who was then principal of the Washington Academy in Alexandria, to officiate for them. With the character and habits of Mr. McQuerr I became acquainted through my old teacher, Mr. Wiley, who was educated at that school. They were nothing better than those of many of the old Episcopal clergy. I am happy, however, to say that more than twenty years after this, on one of my journeys to the South, I heard of him as a most pious and exemplary minister of that communion in the State of Georgia, a zealous advocate of the Temperance and Colonization societies and of every good work, and highly esteemed by all. He lived to a great age, persevering to the last. There is something sad in the history of the Rev. Mr. Gibson, but it must be told for the benefit of others. He began well, preached zealously, was praised and flattered to his undoing. He gave offence to some by a rather harsh way of saying true things. This was complained of, and perhaps harsh things said in return. These were communicated to him by a few of those false friends who think to ingratiate themselves with their minister by communicating to him what ought to be concealed. This exasperated a temper naturally excitable. Under the influence of this, he sud- denly and unexpectedly, from the pulpit, resigned his charge. The vestry were divided as to the acceptance of it, but the majority were in favour of it. When too late he apologized, and wished to retract. Parties were formed, and the result was another congre- gation under his auspices. But, as will be seen when I come to speak of that congregation, he did not continue long with it, but returned to Maryland, where, after a short time, he was dismissed for intemperance. There was reason to fear that the habit had commenced in Alexandria, under the too popular pretext of using
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ardent spirits privately as a medicine. He afterward united with the Methodist Church and ministered in it. Let the clergy learn from his fate to beware of false friends who inform them what their enemies say of them, and to eschew alcohol, even as a medicine, unless prescribed by a temperate physician and as a mere temporary expedient imperiously called for.
In the following year, 1810, the Rev. Mr. Barclay, who came to this country from the West Indies, was chosen. Bishop Clagett, of Maryland, certified to his character for the last six years, during which he had been ministering in Maryland ; but in April of 1811 a wife, whom he had deserted, followed him from the West Indies, and he resigned his charge in Alexandria and has been heard of no more since.
Under these circumstances, the writer of these sad notices, having been ordained by Bishop Madison in the spring of that year, at the age of twenty-one, was induced to take the charge of Christ Church in October, 1811, in conjunction with his charge in Frederick, visiting the latter once a month. For some account of his ministry at that time and place he refers to the second article in this series.
At the close of that brief term of service, extending only to eighteen months, the Rev. Oliver Norris took charge of Christ Church. Mr. Norris was of Quaker descent, but, occasionally at- tending the services of St. Peter's Church, Baltimore, during the ministry of Mr. Dashiel, first became convinced of sin, then of his need of a Saviour, and then of the excellency of our service to build up a convert in the true faith and practice of a Christian. He has often detailed to me the circumstances of his conversion. He first ministered at Elk Ridge and near Bladensburg, in Mary- land, and then came to Virginia. He was an affectionate pastor and faithful preacher of the Gospel, very dear to his people, and esteemed in the Church of Virginia. Being called upon to preach his funeral sermon, and the same being published by the vestry, I am able to present the following passage on one trait in his minis- terial character :-
" May I not, fearless of contradiction, ask this congregation if there be one among them who has not experienced many evidences of his pastoral fidelity and tenderness ? Who has ever complained of neglect there, where a people are so apt to complain ? What individual so poor or so obscure but has received a full share of his pastoral kindness? Which of you, rich or poor, did he ever meet, but affection beamed from his eye and spoke from his lips, and was felt in the warm pressure of his affectionate hand ? Which of you ever left (though but for a season) his pastoral care, but he was with you to bid a kind farewell and commend you to the care of Heaven,
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and when you returned was he not the first to meet and welcome you back again ? Which of you was ever sick, but he was soon at your side, ready to comfort you, pray with you, entreat you to take it in good part as the dis- pensation of God, and, if there was need, to be your tender nurse ? Which of you was ever in any distress of soul, body, or estate, but he was the first to condole with you and endeavour to make some spiritual improvement of your affliction ? Which of his people departing this life, but he was with them, exhorting to due preparation, and strengthening them for the conflict with the last enemy and great adversary ? Once more, let me ask which of your dear little children but has received his kind attentions, heard from his lips some words of counsel suited to their age, and which should be remembered and treasured up in their hearts?"
After the death of Mr. Norris, in the summer of 1825, efforts were made to obtain the services of the Rev. John Johns, then in Fredericktown, Maryland, and of the Rev. Mr. Cobbs, of Bedford county, Virginia, and on the failure of these applications the Rev. Mr. Keith was induced to add the duties of a pastor and preacher to those of professor. He continued this, with some interruption, for the greater part of three years, when the Rev. Geo. Griswold, son of Bishop Griswold, became pastor in 1828. On account of ill health he resigned the following year, to the deep regret of the congregation. The Rev. J. P. McGuire followed for one year, and, unable through weakness of his eyes to make the necessary prepa- ration for the pulpit, resigned the charge. The Rev. Mr. Mann succeeded, and, after continuing for three years, accepted an agency for the Seminary. The Rev. Mr. Dana, its present minister, then took charge of the church.
THE REV. DAVID GRIFFITH.
Concerning the Rev. David Griffith we have something more particular to record. He was born in the city of New York, and educated, partly in that place and partly in England, for the me- dical profession. After taking his degree in London, he returned to America and entered on his profession in the interior of New York about the year 1763. Determined to enter the ministry of the Episcopal Church, he went to London in the year 1770, and was ordained by Bishop Terrick, August the 19th of that year, and returned as missionary to Gloucester county, New Jersey. He could not have continued there long; for, in the close of the next year, he accepts the charge of Shelburne parish, Loudoun county, Virginia. Governor Johnson, of New York, was very anxious to obtain his services in that State, where he was regarded as a " man of uncommon merit." The Governor of Virginia, also,-either from personal knowledge or report,-recommends him very highly to
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Shelburne parish. He continued in it until May, 1776, when- being an American not only by birth but in heart-he entered the service as chaplain to the 3d Virginia Regiment. In this service he continued until some time in the year 1780. He appears as the minister of Christ Church, Alexandria, during that year,-though he was elected the previous year. He is represented as a man of good size and fine appearance and pleasing manners, and as enjoying the confidence of General Washington and the army. Tradition says that, on the night before the battle of Monmouth, he 'sought an interview with General Washington, and, in the pre- sence of his aids, bade him beware of General Charles Lee, though he was not at liberty to give his reasons or authority. When Lee unnecessarily and ingloriously retreated on the field of Monmouth, and almost lost America the battle, there were those who believed that he wished only to diminish the reputation of Washington and receive the supreme command to himself. We only give this as tradition. From the year 1780 to his death, in 1789, Mr. Griffith was the much-esteemed pastor of Christ Church, Alexandria, and that called Little Falls, higher up on the Potomac. During the greater part of this time General Washington was his parishioner- having a pew in Christ Church-and Mr. Griffith was a welcome visitor at Mount Vernon. Mr. Griffith was not merely attentive to his duty as a parish minister, but, in the dark and distressing days of the Episcopal Church in Virginia and in the other States, took a deep interest in the measures proposed for her welfare. When a number of the clergy from the Northern States met-of their own motion, in New York, in October, 1784-to consult about those measures, Mr. Griffith appeared of his own accord from Virginia. But before that time, I have letters to and from him, showing that he was earnestly engaged in correspondence, both North and South, with a view to promoting both State and General Conventions, as the instruments of saving the Church from ruin. The following letters which passed between himself and Dr. Buchanon of Rich- mond will show how deplorable was the condition of things in Vir- ginia at this time, and also establish the fact that Dr. Griffith was the first mover of the proposition to have a Convention in Virginia after the war. I have also a letter in August, 1784, from the Rev. Mr. West, dated from Baltimore, in which he delivers a message from Dr. Smith, of Philadelphia, to Mr. Griffith, showing his esti- mate of the latter in relation to this movement. It is probable that this Mr. West was the same who preceded Mr. Griffith in Alexan- dria, as he speaks of being there.
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.
The following letter of Dr. Griffith to Dr. Buchanon, of Rich- mond, must have been written in the fall of 1783, before any meet- ing of Episcopalians, in any part of the land, had occurred with a similar object. Dr. Buchanon's reply was not until the February following, except so far as a verbal message went :-
"DEAR SIR :- You may recollect the conversation we had when I had the pleasure of seeing you at Richmond; that we mutually lamented the declining state of the Church of England in this country, and the pitiable situation of her clergy,-especially those whose circumstances are not sufficiently independent to place them beyond the reach of want. I'am satisfied our Church has yet a very great number of powerful friends who are disposed to give it encouragement and support, and who wish to see some plan in agitation for effecting a business so important, and at this time so very necessary. It is (and very justly) matter of astonishment to many, that those whose more immediate duty it is to look to the concerns of their religious society should show so much indifference and indolence as the Church and clergy do, while the leaders of almost every other de- nomination are labouring with the greatest assiduity to increase their in- fluence, and, by open attacks and subtle machinations, endeavouring to lessen that of every other society,-particularly the Church to which you and I have the honour to belong, in whose destruction they all (Quakers and Methodists excepted) seem to agree perfectly, however they may differ in other points. Against these it behooves us to be cautious. But, unless the clergy act conjointly and agreeably to some well-regulated plan, the ruin of our Church is inevitable without the malevolence of her enemies. Considering her present situation and circumstances,-without ordination, without government, without support, unprotected by the laws, and yet labouring under injurious restrictions from laws which yet exist,-these things considered, her destruction is sure as fate, unless some mode is adopted for her preservation. Her friends, by suffering her to continue in her present state of embarrassment, as effectually work her destruction as her avowed enemies could do by their most successful contrivances.
" In the late contest for a stake of the last importance to this country, it would have been imprudent to enter on a regulation of ecclesiastical affairs, or to attempt any thing that might interrupt that union which was so necessary for our mutual security and preservation. But that time, God be thanked, is happily over, and those reasons no longer exist. It seems to be high time for those whom it concerns to be engaged in the important business of regulating the affairs of the Church. I have been for some time in the hope that some of my brethren near the seat of government would have set on foot this necessary business ; and my reason for address- ing you at this time is to be informed whether any thing of the kind is begun or intended,-the time when, the place where, and manner how,-and, if nothing of the kind should be yet determined upon, to request of you, as your situation renders it noway inconvenient, to un- dertake to promote a Convention of the clergy for that purpose. I shall also presume to offer my advice. In order that the measures agreed on may be generally acceptable to the clergy and no objection remain to im- pede their future execution, it will be necessary to have as numerous a meeting as possible. I would recommend to have the clergy summoned to this Convention both by public notice and private information; for, as
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