Fairfax Parish, Virginia facts for kids
Fairfax Parish was an important area for the Anglican church in colonial Virginia. It covered part of Fairfax County. The main church for the parish was The Falls Church. Fairfax Parish was created in 1764. It was formed from a larger area called Truro Parish.
How Fairfax Parish Was Formed
The Anglican church was the official religion in the Colony of Virginia. This was true from 1619 until 1776. Each church area, called a parish, had one minister. A group of 12 wealthy local men, called a vestry, managed the parish.
New parishes were created by the government. This was done by the House of Burgesses and the Governor's Council. These were the two parts of Virginia's legislature.
In 1761, people living in the northern part of Truro Parish asked to divide it. They wanted their own parish. The government agreed in 1764. They created Fairfax Parish. Its border started at Doeg Creek. It went to George Washington's mill. Then it went in a straight line to John Munroe's farm. The line continued to the border between Fairfax and Loudoun County.
However, the part of Truro Parish that remained was too small. So, in 1765, the borders were changed again. This put George Washington's home at Mount Vernon back into Truro Parish. Some nearby farms also returned to Truro.
Today, Fairfax Parish would cover many areas. These include the City of Alexandria and Arlington County. It would also include the City of Falls Church and the City of Fairfax. Plus, it would cover the western and northern parts of Fairfax County.
Important Places of Worship
The main church for Fairfax Parish was called the Falls Church. It was located near the falls line of the river. Christ Church in Alexandria was also part of the parish. It served as a smaller chapel.
The parish also had a special piece of land. It was called The Glebe of Fairfax Parish. This land included a house for the minister. It also had land to help support the parish. This glebe is in what is now Arlington County. The house there today was built in 1810. This was after the Anglican church was no longer the official religion.
