Before the American Revolution few Catholics lived in Virginia. Anti-Catholic laws were common. This changed with Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786. A new frontier opened for Catholics. Welcome to Saint Agnes Catholic Church. Its story is woven into the fabric of Arlington Virginia.
Saint Agnes didn’t appear overnight. Long before its first Mass Native Americans roamed this land. The Nacotchtank tribe called this area home. They lived in woven grass longhouses thousands of years ago. English colonists followed farming the land in the mid-1700s. Cherry orchards flourished in the 1800s. This area became known as Cherrydale.
The Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad boosted Cherrydale’s growth in 1906. This development fueled the need for a Catholic church. Cherrydale Catholics requested a mission in 1913. Their first Mass was held in a small grocery store. Later Masses were moved to a movie theater. Eventually they used Cherrydale Public School.
Fundraising began for a proper church building. Naval Admiral A W Weaver donated $1500. He also gave the land for the church. It was named Saint Agnes after his sister a Sister of Charity. Construction of the first Saint Agnes Church began in 1919. Bishop Dennis J O’Connell consecrated it in 1920.
Saint Agnes became its own parish in 1936. Father Edward W Johnston became its first pastor. A basement was added in 1937. It hosted fundraisers and social events. A rectory was built in 1938. The school opened in 1946. Five Sisters of Notre Dame taught.
Father R Emmet Hannon replaced Father Johnston as pastor. He oversaw the school’s expansion. A new 700-seat church and school addition were built in the 1950s. The old church became the gym. By the 1950s Saint Agnes had over 1500 families and 900 students. The current church designed by architect Joseph Johnson opened in 1966. Its design was more conducive to electronic sound amplification.
The “Lord of Lords Window” is a special feature. It depicts Christ’s spirit permeating the three branches of the US government. It reflects Pope Pius XI’s 1925 establishment of the Feast of Christ the King. Today Saint Agnes continues to serve its community. It offers worship and outreach programs. It stands as a testament to faith. Its history echoes the growth of Arlington. It’s a living example of faith evolving through time. It’s a place of worship and community. This is Saint Agnes Catholic Church a place where history and faith converge.