Evening Star Newspaper, November 23, 1930, Page 85

. VASHIN OLD AQUIA, ONE OF THE FINEST OF VIRGINIA’S COLONIAL -{ .+ CHURCHLS, IS RESTORED 710 ITS PRE-REVOLUTIONARY GLORY Historic Sanctuary, in Perfect State of Preservation, Is a Fine Example of Early Church Architecture. BY HUDSON GRUNEW ALD.' LDER by a quarter of a century than the American Revolution ‘and still standing today just as it was when the early English families of Virginia came to worship at its altar, Aquia But a change has taken place. Now a sign on the Washingion-Richmond highway calls at- tention to the historic sanctuary and an arrow points the way to a newly-built road, where, George when Aquia Church was built. + Years were to elapse before the ground u which its foundations rose would become dis- tinctively American soil. Tflllesenquu.flnt iebterl.ncovert.he south door tells the story of the church’s begin- after the Revolution. Upon a panel on the gallery appear the names of the vestry, as follows: John Moncure, Minister, 1757. Vestrymen: Peter Hedgeman John Mercer John Lee Mat Doniphan ‘Travers Cook, Warden Henry Tyler John Fitzhugh William Mountjoy John Peyton Opposite the center entrance is the chancel, under which is a vault where lie the remains of John Moncure, the first rector, and his family. Stafford County and Overwharton Parish, named for the correspond.ng ones in England, originated in 1666 out of Westmoreland County, and extended to the Blue Ridge Mountains, being. the frontier county reaching from -the Potomac River and stretching north and west. It embraced the present counties of Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington and part of Fauquier. It was first represented in the House of Burgesses by Col. Henry Mees, June, 1666, who was allowed 130 pounds of tobacco and a cask each day for traveling ex- penses, four days being required for the trip, which can now be made in less than four hours. The first court house was built at Mariboro Point, where Pocahontas is said to have been purchased by Capt. Argoll of Jamestown for & copper kettle and some beads, but in 1783 it was removed to its present site. Many of the county records have been preserved; several taken away by the soldiers during the war be- tween the States have been returned—one, dat- ing back to 1667, quite recently. Old Aquia’s original Although it has weathered 173 Winters, old Aquia Church stands in - perfect state of preservation today, just as it was in the early Colonial days of Virginia nelrflnflntcoutthmnml’otomaecnek.v the walls of which*were still standing until torn down by Federal troops during the Civil War. According to Bishop Meade, the Rev. Alexander Scott was the first permanent clergyman, having been sent from England by the Bishop of Lon- don. He came in 1710 and remained until he silver communion service, bearing the inscription, “The Gift of the Reverend Mr. Alexander Scott, A. M., late Minister of this Parish, Anno 1739,” was buried in the ground for safe keeping during three wars. OVIRWEAR’ION PARISH was co-extensive with the County of Stafford with which it originated, comprising a part of what was once Washington parish. Of the early history of Overwharton and its rectors but little is known. The first church, “Potomac Church,” was built Aquia’s unusual threetiered pulpit, of which only one signilar is extant today. ioqa rare relic of Colonial architecture, as are the old-fashioned square pews, shich have been carefully preserved. H gig 14 : §§§§§Ea it were cut down to somewhat former height when the chi restored by the descendants of the who had bullt it. A’l‘presentOlquuhOhurcb, cared for by the whole countryside, excellent state of upkeep. One Sunday aside each year as “Home 1] i § 4! 1 3 congregations, their friends and families and visitors from far and near flock to the historic shrine to attend the memorial services. Of the i BEE. ggsg 11 mu. ksburg, Richmond and many distant “Stafford hospitality, always the chief glory of the county, attains its most bountiful heights on Home Coming day. Dinner in the E which once required day in the stagecoach era, Aquia Church now be easily reached in an hour’s