 | The history of Truro Parish in Virginia, |  |
Later History of Pohick Church
Upon the organization of the Diocese of Virginia
in the year 1785 no representative appears
in the Convention from Truro Parish, nor does
the name of the Parish appear on the Convention
journals for more than half a century except once
in a list of the parishes as divided into Presbyterial
Districts. What occasional services, if any, were
held in Pohick Church after the death of the Rev.
Mr. O'Neill in 1813 we know not, until the silence
is broken in 1838 by Bishop Meade in the
report to the Convention from which extracts
have already been given by Dr. Slaughter. To
the same Convention the Rev. William P. C. Johnson
reports, as Rector of Pohick Church, Truro
Parish,—"It has been nearly two years since the
minister of this Parish first commenced regular
services in a Church, which, for a number of years,
has resounded the echoes of the beasts of the field,
instead of the prayers and praises of rational creatures.
Owing to the dilapidated condition of the
Parish Church his services have hitherto been only
occasional. An effort is now being made to restore
this Church to a comfortable condition, and
the hope is entertained that ultimate good may
moral waste of the Lord's vineyard." In 1841
he makes his last report, and adds "The minister
of Truro Parish respectfully reports that the venerable
Church edifice in which he officiates has
been rescued from further decay and dilapidation."
He makes no mention of the number of
Communicants, but during the four years of his
ministry there he baptized four white and eighteen
colored infants, and officiated at eight marriages
and four burials. He rendered occasional services
at old Aquia Church in Stafford County and in the
old Court House at Dumfries in Prince William.
He was also employed as a tutor for the children
of the last Mrs. George Mason, of Gunston Hall.
After Mr. Johnson's retirement the Church was
sometimes opened for Divine service by Students
from the Theological Seminary, with perhaps occasional
visits from the Professors. The Methodists
also preached there from time to time. In
1861 the Rev. R. T. Brown, of Fairfax C. H. reported
that he had "Also taken charge of Pohick
Church, near Mount Vernon, with fair prospects
of success." But the outbreak of war made his
ministry there a short one.
When the war was over it was found that Pohick
had fared comparatively well, for there was left of
it the walls, the roof and the ceiling. Of the interior
woodwork there also remained the original
cornice, while the stone font was afterwards discovered
been used as a watering trough. Of its rehabilitation
and consecration Bishop Johns wrote a few
months before his death:—
"October 3d. 1875. I consecrated Pohick
Church. Morning service by the Rev. Dr. Packard
and the Rev. Dr. McIlhenny. Sermon by myself.
This venerable building, in the location and
erection of which General Washington was so active,
was for many years the Parish Church of the
family at Mount Vernon. It was during the late
war shamefully damaged by its military invaders,
who left it to crumble under the wasting influences
of the weather, and to be carried off at pleasure
by any one who fancied its material for private
use. So, after the war of the Revolution, disappeared
the church in which the "Father of his
Country" was said to have been christened, and
such seemed to be the doom of the church of his
manhood, but its sad condition came to the knowledge
of a generous Christian gentleman of New
York, who enquired, then came and looked, and
then never intermitted his efforts till the ruin was
thoroughly repaired. A new chancel with all its
appropriate furniture and a handsome communion
service was provided, a font in front and a convenient
robing room on one side of the chancel
and a good pipe organ on the other. The restoration
was complete, and the large congregation
now assembled were gladdened by the presence
they were so largely indebted, and who was now
with them uniting in the consecration of the venerable
building which he had been the honored
agent in rescuing from ruin and preserving for
their great benefit and the honour and worship of
God. Until an ordained minister can be procured
to officiate regularly for this congregation stated
services will be rendered by students of the Seminary
appointed for the purpose."
In September, 1881, the Rev. Samuel A. Wallis,
newly ordained, took charge of Pohick, and from
this moment the real revival of its life began. He
found but ten Communicants. But his faithful
work among the people of a widely scattered community
soon resulted in gathering a large and interested
congregation, to whom he ministered for
thirteen years. A rectory was secured and other
parish property added, and the active interest of
the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association was enlisted
in the church. Mr. Wallis resigned in 1894.
Bishop Newton thus speaks of his ministry there:
"The history of old Pohick Church for the past
thirteen years, its resuscitation and progress,
speaks with no uncertain sound in favor of a long
and faithful pastorate. When Rev. S. A. Wallis
entered upon the work as a Deacon it was one of
the least promising fields in the Diocese. He left
it, when elected a Professor in the Theological
Seminary, with the church building in good condition,
Communicants increased tenfold. The Sunday
School of nearly one hundred scholars presented
a most cheering outlook for the future."
Mr. Wallis continued his oversight of the congregation
until the Rev. Henry F. Kloman took
charge in the summer of 1895. He remained two
years, and was succeeded in October, 1897, by the
Rev. Everard Meade, the present beloved Rector.
Under him the work, which has long been in contemplation,
of a real restoration of the interior of
the Church to its original appearance and beauty,
has progressed and is in large part completed. The
chancel, pulpit and the principal pews are now reproduced
as exactly as possible as they were when
the Church was received by the Vestry from the
hands of Col. George Mason in 1774. The pews
in the rear of the building alone remain to be restored.
In this work the Rector and Vestry have
been generously aided by the Mount Vernon Association,
the Daughters of the American Revolution,
and other patriotic and antiquarian societies,
as well as by individuals who have been interested
in preserving the sacred memories which cluster
around this sturdy old temple of God. The reopening
of the Church after its restoration took
place on Advent Sunday, 1906; the sermon being
preached by the Rev. Dr.. S. A. Wallis.
Since the year 1873 the following gentlemen, in
order of their election, have served on the Vestry
Charles Landstreet, Charles Potter, J. H. Claggett,
J. M. Lewis, Dr. N. B. Nevitt, Seth Kurhling,
W. R. Ward, A. C. Landstreet, James Haslip,
George Erskine, John Theisz, John K. Nevitt,
Harrison H. Dodge, John Landstreet, Joseph
Specht, L. G. Reid, Wm. M. Nevitt, R. W. Gaillard,
J. P. H. Mason, Corbin Thompson, L. A.
Denty, George N. Milstead, B. F. Nevitt, Dr. W.
P. Caton.
The present Vestry consists of Messrs.. Thomas
F. Chapman, William M. Nevitt, John Landstreet,
N. B. Nevitt, M. D., W. P. Caton, M. D., J. P. H.
Mason, Harrison H. Dodge, George N. Milstead,
B. F. Nevitt, Corbin Thompson, L. A. Denty, and
Luther G. Reid.
Olivet Church; Truro Parish. A Chapel
bearing this name was for many years a Mission
station in charge of the students of the
Theological Seminary of Virginia. This was destroyed
during the war. A second Chapel was
built on the same site, and was consecrated by
Bishop Johns, June 2d, 1872. Twenty years later
the present Church was built on a different and
better site, and was consecrated by Bishop F. M.
Whittle, April 4th, 1898. Olivet became connected
with Pohick in 1881, when the Rev. Mr.
Wallis took charge of them, and has since remained
under the care of the Rector and Vestry
Station.
Pohick Chapel. This is a small Chapel,
situated about four and a half miles northwest of
Pohick Church, to which it belongs. It was built
in 1903 through the efforts of the Rev. Everard
Meade, and was consecrated by Bishop R. A. Gibson
on October 12th of that year.
| The history of Truro Parish in Virginia, | |