The Falls Church facts for kids
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Falls Church
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 115 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church, Virginia |
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| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | 1767 |
| Architect | Col. James Wren |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000870 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
The Falls Church is a very old and important Episcopal church. It's so famous that the city of Falls Church, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., is named after it! This church was started in 1732. The brick building you see today was built in 1769, and people still use it.
Contents
History of The Falls Church
Early Days
The first version of The Falls Church was likely started by a landowner named William Gunnell. He moved to the area in 1729. In 1730, he found a minister and gathered people to worship. They met in his home until 1733. That's when the first church building was constructed. Before this, the closest church was Pohick Church near Lorton.
The first church was known as "William Gunnell's Church." It was a wooden building designed by Colonel Richard Blackburn. It was 40 feet long and 22 feet wide. The cost to build it was 33,500 pounds of tobacco! This church, like Pohick Church, served Truro Parish. This parish was created in 1732 for the land north of the Occoquan River.
A man named Michael Reagan allowed the church to be built on his land. However, he didn't officially give the land to the church. Later, John Trammell bought the land. In 1746, he sold the two-acre plot to the church leaders. This plot included the church, the churchyard, and a spring. By this time, people called it the "Upper Church."
The church records first called it the "Falls Church" in 1757. This was because of its location. It was at the crossing of the road to the Little Falls of the Potomac River and the Middle Turnpike. The Middle Turnpike is now Virginia Route 7, also called West Broad Street in Falls Church City.
Important historical figures were involved with the church. George Mason became a church leader (called a vestryman) in 1748. George Washington also became a vestryman in 1762.
Building the Brick Church
By 1762, the old wooden church was falling apart. The church leaders decided to build a new brick church on the same spot. The next year, George Washington and George William Fairfax were church wardens. They were in charge of hiring people to build the new church. After 1765, this church became the main church for the new Fairfax Parish.
The new church was designed by Colonel James Wren. He was also a member of the church leadership. Construction began in 1767 and finished in late 1769. The Wren building is still standing today. It is located between S. Washington, E. Broad, and E. Fairfax Streets. The 1769 building is the oldest church building north of Quantico in Virginia. It is also one of the oldest church structures in the United States.
Revolutionary War and Recovery
During the American Revolutionary War, soldiers for the Fairfax Militia were recruited from the church. People say that after the war ended, the Declaration of Independence was read to citizens from the church's south steps.
In 1784, the state of Virginia stopped supporting the Anglican Church as the official state church. Because of this, The Falls Church was left empty for almost 50 years. In 1836, an Episcopal group started using it again for worship. Francis Scott Key, who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner," was a lay reader (a non-clergy leader) in this church. Henry Fairfax also used his own money to help restore the building in 1838 and 1839.
Civil War Challenges
During the American Civil War, the church was used by Union soldiers. First, it was a hospital, and later, it was used as a stable for horses. After the war, worship services started again. The church's main worship area has been in continuous use since about 1873.
The inside of the church was repaired after the war. The United States government paid for the damage caused by Union forces. You can still see some of these repairs today. Look at the brickwork below the windows and the lower part of the brick doorway at the west end of the church.
The church was updated in 1908 and had a big renovation in 1959. New balconies were added, which were part of Wren's original design but never built. A new chancel (the area around the altar) was also added. Other than these changes and the war repairs, the church still looks much like it did when it was built in 1769.
Church Ownership Discussion
Between 2006 and 2014, the church community faced disagreements about religious issues. The church buildings and property became part of a long legal process.
In 2006, most of the church members voted to leave the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA). They wanted to join another group called the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). A smaller group of members stayed with the Episcopal Church. They called themselves The Falls Church (Episcopal) and started holding services at a different church nearby.
The larger group, who renamed themselves The Falls Church (Anglican), continued to worship at the historic church property. They asked a court to transfer ownership of the property to CANA. However, the Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) disagreed with this. After many court decisions and appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court decided that the church property would stay with The Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal parish then returned to worship at the historic church property. The Anglican parish moved to a different location. In March 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear another appeal. This decision officially ended the matter.
