Pohick Church
Encyclopedia
Pohick Church is an Episcopal church in the community of Pohick
near Lorton
in Fairfax County
, Virginia
, United States
.
Truro Parish
of Virginia, it was later renamed Pohick Church in 1732 after relocating near Pohick Creek
, a site now occupied by Cranford Methodist Church.
In 1769, work was begun on the present Pohick Church structure and it was completed in 1774. It had several notable members of the vestry
who helped raise funds for its construction, including the first President of the United States
, George Washington
, and his father Augustine
, George Mason
, and George William Fairfax
(a relative of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
). It was custom at the time to raise money for the funding of the church through the purchase of private pew
boxes.
Following the disestablishment of the Anglican church by the United States Congress
in 1785, many of what were renamed Episocpal churches fell into decline. However, Pohick Church remained active with Washington biographer Parson Weems
serving as rector of the church periodically.
However, the church was raided by the British
in the War of 1812
and was only used sporadically by Episcopalians in the early part of the 19th century and the building fell into decline.
A national fund raising effort allowed for a restoration in the 1840s but during the Civil War
, the church was taken over by occupying Union
troops, who used the church building as a stable
. Northern
soldiers vandalized
and looted
the building and their graffiti
is still visible on the church walls.
Following the Civil War, services at the Pohick Church resumed in 1874 and the building underwent another restoration at the end of the 19th century.
Pohick, Virginia
Pohick is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA. Pohick is centered between the intersections of Rolling and Telegraph Roads with Richmond Highway . It is adjacent to the communities of Lorton and Newington. Pohick takes its name from Pohick Church which in turn is named for...
near Lorton
Lorton, Virginia
Lorton is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population is 27,709 as of the 2008 census estimate.-History:...
in Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Originally founded around 1695 as Occoquan Church, in the AnglicanAnglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Truro Parish
Truro Parish
Truro Church is an Anglican church in Fairfax, Virginia, US.-History of Truro Church:The original Truro Parish was created by the General Assembly of Virginia on November 1, 1732 when Hamilton Parish was divided along the Occoquan River and Bull Run...
of Virginia, it was later renamed Pohick Church in 1732 after relocating near Pohick Creek
Pohick Creek
Pohick Creek is a tributary stream of the Potomac River in Fairfax County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It takes its name from the Pohick Native American tribe once prevalent in the area....
, a site now occupied by Cranford Methodist Church.
In 1769, work was begun on the present Pohick Church structure and it was completed in 1774. It had several notable members of the vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
who helped raise funds for its construction, including the first President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, and his father Augustine
Augustine Washington
Augustine Washington was the father of general and president George Washington. He belonged to the Colony of Virginia's landed gentry and was a planter and slaveholder.-Family:...
, George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
, and George William Fairfax
George William Fairfax
George William Fairfax was a planter and member of the landed gentry of late colonial Virginia. He was a contemporary and good friend of George Washington, and made opportunities for him through his powerful family....
(a relative of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron was the son of Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron and of Catherine, daughter of Thomas Culpeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper of Thoresway....
). It was custom at the time to raise money for the funding of the church through the purchase of private pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
boxes.
Following the disestablishment of the Anglican church by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1785, many of what were renamed Episocpal churches fell into decline. However, Pohick Church remained active with Washington biographer Parson Weems
Parson Weems
Mason Locke Weems , generally known as Parson Weems, was an American book agent and author. He is best known as the source of some of the apocryphal stories about George Washington...
serving as rector of the church periodically.
However, the church was raided by the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and was only used sporadically by Episcopalians in the early part of the 19th century and the building fell into decline.
A national fund raising effort allowed for a restoration in the 1840s but during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the church was taken over by occupying Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
troops, who used the church building as a stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
. Northern
Northern United States
Northern United States, also sometimes the North, may refer to:* A particular grouping of states or regions of the United States of America. The United States Census Bureau divides some of the northernmost United States into the Midwest Region and the Northeast Region...
soldiers vandalized
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
and looted
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
the building and their graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
is still visible on the church walls.
Following the Civil War, services at the Pohick Church resumed in 1874 and the building underwent another restoration at the end of the 19th century.