Biographical material for
Falls Episcopal Church
in Falls Church, Virginia,
built in part by Owen
Williams, who did the
stone cutting work.
"At a Vestry of Truro Parish held at the Falls Church March 28th 1760.
Present
|
Henry Gunnell |
Thos. Wren |
} Vestry Men |
Who being there met to
examine into the State of said Church greatly in decay & want of
repairing & likewise whether the same should be repaired, or a
new one built, and whether at the same Place, or removed to a more
convenient one, and likewise to view the Addition built by Mr.
Charles Broadwater, and what he hath been deficient in the work.
Resolved it is the Opinion of
this Vestry that the old Church is rotten and unfit for repair, but
that a new Church be built at the same place. Resolved that James
Wren and Owen Williams to value the work to be done by Mr. Broadwater
on the new Addition, that is the price of Glazing three Windows &
Plastering the said House, together with materials necessary for the
same and make report to the next Vestry.
Ordered that the Clerk of the
Vestry Advertise in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes for Workmen to
meet at the said Church on the 29th Day of August next, if fair, if
not the next fair Day to undertake the Building a Brick Church to
contain 1600 Feet on the Floor, with a suitable Gallery & bring a
Plan of the Church and price according to the same.
Ordered that the Church
Wardens employ Workmen to repair the Windows in the North side of the
East End of the old Church and repair the Shutters of the new Addition.
|
Copy. |
Henry Gunnell |
NB. This Vestry was held when I was sick, and could not attend - the above orders were writ as above, signed by Maj's. Gunnell & Payne, and I thought if it be record the same. - This imprint of Time it should have been before the Last one.
John West Junr."
From the 1768 Vestry Book of Falls Episcopal Church, Falls Church, Virginia.
Falls Episcopal Church
THE FALLS CHURCH
THE FIRST CHURCH ON THIS SITE WAS
BUILT IN 1734 AND WAS IN
TRURO PARISH.
GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS ELECTED A
VESTRYMAN, OCTOBER 17, 1763.
IN 1765
THE CHURCH FELL WITHIN THE NEWLY
CREATED FAIRFAX PARISH, OF WHICH
WASHINGTON WAS CHOSEN A VESTRYMAN.
THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS BUILT
IN 1768.
IT WAS USED AS A RECRUITING STATION
IN THE REVOLUTION AND AS A STABLE
BY UNION TROOPS, 1862-65.
|
|
|
Owen and Keziah
Cockerill Williams'
home on Meridian Street
in Falls Church.
The Western corner boundary
stone for the District of Columbia was placed in 1791 behind the
house once belonging to Owen and Keziah Williams.
It is located in present-day
Andrew Ellicott Park.
Color pictures of Western Corner Boundary Stone courtesy of Boundary Stones of Washington D.C. (top) and Barcroft Neighborhood Home Page (bottom).
