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Christ Church (Alexandria, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Christ Church in Alexandria
, Virginia
, is an Episcopal church built from 1767 to 1773 by John Carlyle
.
The church was designed by James Wren in the colonial style, and frequented by such notables as George Washington
, Robert E. Lee
, and Philip Richard Fendall I
. In addition, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
visited the church on January 1, 1942 to commemorate World Day of Prayer for Peace. Today, the church has over 2,400 members.
in the same parish, the church has been embellished with stone quoins and window surrounds. The roof is a simple hipped structure. A prominent tower was added between 1785 and 1815, as well as upper level galleries in the interior.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1970.
Among the burials in the church cemetery is the mass grave of thirty-four Confederate
prisoners of war
who died in local prison camps during the American Civil War
. A memorial stone in the churchyard commemorates their deaths.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, is an Episcopal church built from 1767 to 1773 by John Carlyle
John Carlyle (merchant)
John Carlyle was a Scottish merchant who immigrated to British Colony of Virginia and became a leading landowner and social and political figure in Northern Virginia...
.
The church was designed by James Wren in the colonial style, and frequented by such notables as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
, and Philip Richard Fendall I
Philip Richard Fendall I
Philip Richard Fendall I was an influential banker, lawyer, and merchant in Alexandria, Virginia. He was a member of the Lee family and a friend and business partner to George Washington...
. In addition, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
visited the church on January 1, 1942 to commemorate World Day of Prayer for Peace. Today, the church has over 2,400 members.
Description
The brick two-story church measures about 60 feet (18.3 m) by 50 feet (15.2 m). Comparable to the less altered Pohick ChurchPohick Church
Pohick Church is an Episcopal church in the community of Pohick near Lorton in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States.-History:Originally founded around 1695 as Occoquan Church, in the Anglican Truro Parish of Virginia, it was later renamed Pohick Church in 1732 after relocating near Pohick Creek,...
in the same parish, the church has been embellished with stone quoins and window surrounds. The roof is a simple hipped structure. A prominent tower was added between 1785 and 1815, as well as upper level galleries in the interior.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1970.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
who died in local prison camps during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. A memorial stone in the churchyard commemorates their deaths.