University of Virginia Library

Payne's Church

"At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at William
Gardner's on the 3rd and 4th days of February,
1766—

Present, Mr. Edwd. Payne, C. W.

Colo. Geo. Washington Mr. William Gardner
Capt. Daniel Mc.Carty Thomas Withers Coffer
Colo. Geo. Wm. Fairfax Wm. Linton &
Mr. Alexr. Henderson Thos. Ford

Vestrymen.

Who being there met to enquire the most convenient
place to erect a new Church, and to agree
with workmen to build the same.

"Resolved, that the new Church be built on the
middle Ridge near the Ox road, the ground to be
laid off by Mr. Edward Payne, Mr. William
Gardner, Mr. Thos. Withers Coffer and Mr.
Thos. Ford, or any three of them, on the land supposed
to be belonging to Mr. Thomazen Ellzey,
who being present consents to the same.

"Agreeable to a plan and articles annexed thereto
Mr. Edward Payne hath undertaken to build
the said Church for the sum of five hundred and
seventy-nine pounds Virginia Currency.

"Ordered that the said Edward Payne do paint

Payne's Church, 1768–1862. From a Photograph taken in 1861

the cornish, windows and doors of the said Church
and bring in his charge thereof. And that he pay
to Mr. John Ayres forty shillings for his plan and
estimate.

"Ordered that Col. Geo. Washington, Capt.
Daniel McCarty, Colo. Geo. Wm. Fairfax, Mr.
Alex. Henderson and Mr. Thos. Ford, or any
three of them, do view and examine the said building
from time to time as shall be requisite.

"Ordered that 31,549 lb. of tobo. in the hands of
the Church Wardens for the year 1764, to wit,
George Washington and George Wm. Fairfax
Esqrs. be sold to the highest bidder, before the
Court House door of this County on the first day
of June Court next between the hours of 12 and
4, and that publick notice be given of the sale."

"Memorandum of an Agreement made this
fourth day of February one thousand seven
hundred and sixty six, between the Vestry of Truro
Parish in the County of Fairfax and Edward Payne
of the Parish of Truro and County aforesaid as follows,
vizt.—

"The said Edward Payne does undertake and
agree to build and finish in a Workman like manner
a Church on the Ox Road, to be placed agreeable
to an order of the said Vestry, of the following
Demensions & according to the annexed Plan,
to wit, Fifty three and an half feet in length, and
thirty feet in breadth in the Clear; the walls to be
built of good Bricks, well burnt, of the ordinary

size, that is nine Inches long, four and an half Inches
broad, and three Inches thick, the outside
Bricks to be laid with Mortar two thirds lime and
one third sand, the inside Bricks to be laid with
Mortar half lime and half sand. The Corners of
the House, the Windows & Doors, to be of rubbed
Brick—The Arches and Pediment heads of the
Doors and Windows to be of Bricks rubbed
gauged and set in Putty.

"The Doors to be made of Pine Plank, two Inches
thick, moulded and raised Pannells on both
sides.

"The Sashes to be made of Pine Plank, one Inch
and three quarters thick, and to have Sixteen
lights in each square Sash, of the best crown-Glass,
twelve Inches by ten. The Window and Door
Cases to be made with double Archatraves.

"The floors and Gallery to be framed with good
Oak, the Roof to be framed with good Poplar—
and the Scantling to be of a size and proper Proportion
to the Building.

"The Roof to be covered with Inch pine Plank
cyphered and lapt, one and an half Inches. And
to be Shingled with good Cypress Shingles, twenty
Inches in length and to show six Inches.

"The Cornish to be in Proportion to the hight
of the Walls (which are to be twenty two feet and
an half,) with Dentile Blocks.

"The floors to be laid with pine Plank, one and
an half Inch thick, the Iles to be laid with Brick

Tyles, the Pews to be wainscotted with Pine plank,
an Inch and an half thick, double work on each
side of the framing and raised pannel on one side.

"To have an Altar Piece sixteen feet high &
twelve feet wide, and done with wainscot after the
Ionic order. The floor of the Communion place
to be raised twelve Inches higher than the floor
of the house with hand rails and Banisters of black
Walnut.

"The Pulpit, Canopy and reading Desks to be of
black walnut, Wainscoted with proper Cornish.

"The Gallery to be supported by Collums turned
& fluted, to come out as far as the second Window
at the West end of the Church, to have a Wainscoted
front, and to have four Seats raised one
behind and above another. The whole to be done
and finished by the first Day of October in the
Year one thousand seven hundred and Sixty eight,
in sufficient and workmanlike manner, agreeable
to the Plan aforesaid.

"In Consideration whereof the said Vestry do
agree to pay unto the said Edward Payne the sum
of Five hundred and Seventy nine pounds Virginia
Currency in manner following to wit, one third
part of the said sum to be paid on the first Day
of July next—another third part when the Church
is covered, and the remaining part when the whole
work is compleated and finished. In Witness
whereof the said Parties (to wit) the Members of
the said Vestry here Present and the said Edward

Payne have hereunto interchangeably set their
Hands the Day and Year first above written.

"The said Edward Payne is also to Ceil, Plaister
& Whitewash the inside of the said Church in a
proper manner, and to find and put on Locks and
Hinges on the Doors & hinges on the Pews &c.

                   

"Signed &c.	Go. Washington
in presence of	Daniel Mc.Carty
Lee Massey	Go. Wm. Fairfax
John Barry	A. Henderson
John Tillett	William Gardner
	Thos. Withers Coffer
	William Linton
	Thos. Ford
A true copy	Edwd. Payne.
Test, John Barry, Clk. Vestry."