Solemnly, the bell tolled. This marked the passing of George Washington. Welcome to the Old Presbyterian Meeting House. This house stands as a testament to Alexandria’s rich history. It reflects community devotion to Washington’s life and leadership.
The Old Presbyterian Meeting House is a Christian church. It is located in Old Town Alexandria. The church stands at 321 South Fairfax Street. It is part of the Presbyterian Church. This church is a vital piece of the National Capital Presbytery. It also belongs to the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic.
Originally built in 1775, the Meeting House embraced the Early Republic style. A fire in 1835 caused massive damage. It was rebuilt in 1836. The bell tower came later in 1843. Granite entrance stairs appeared in 1853. The campus earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The church nestles within the Alexandria Historic District.
Scottish Presbyterians played a role in Alexandria’s establishment as a port in 1749. They worshiped openly from the 1760s. The first minister arrived in 1772. The Meeting House rose in 1775. After the 1835 fire, the rebuilt structure kept a plain style. The bell tower and stairs are the only major additions.
Alexandrians gathered here for significant events. George Washington attended a service. Rev. Dr. James Muir led it. It was a National Day of Solemn Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer in 1798. Alexandria’s memorial services for George Washington happened here in 1799. The church bell tolled during the four days between his death and burial.
The Old Presbyterian Meeting House remained open during the Civil War. However, the congregation decreased afterward. The building closed for worship in 1899. The church property went to Second Presbyterian Church. They took on the responsibility of maintaining it.
For about fifty years, it functioned as a museum and worship space. A new congregation formed in 1949. They took the name “the Old Presbyterian Meeting House.”
Music has always been integral here. The church has hosted public concerts for over two centuries. Jacob Hilbus installed the first pipe organ in 1817. Church historian Julius Melton says it was the first in a Presbyterian church in the U.S. The 1835 fire destroyed it. Henry Erben built the pipe organ in the apse in 1849. The Lively-Fulcher Organ Company installed the rear gallery pipe organ in 1997.
Next to the Meeting House sits a Burial Ground. Other buildings include Flounder House built in 1787. It was originally a parsonage. Elliot House was a private residence. The Education Building was built in 1957.
The Burial Ground holds many Revolutionary War patriots. There is even an unidentified soldier honored by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution. Among over 300 buried here are John Carlyle. He was Alexandria’s founder. Also, Dr. James Craik is buried here. He was Physician General of the Continental Army. William Hunter, Jr., mayor of Alexandria, rests here. Daniel Douglass, a merchant, is also buried here.
The Meeting House also runs the Presbyterian Cemetery. It opened in 1809. The cemetery is the final resting place of 17 American Revolution patriots. Men killed in the War of 1812 also rest here. Sixty-two Confederate veterans and many Union soldiers are buried here as well.
Today, the Old Presbyterian Meeting House has a vibrant congregation. It has over 1,000 members. Music remains essential. Worship services feature the Lively-Fulcher pipe organ and a choir.
The Old Presbyterian Meeting House actively participates in local and global missions. It supports various programs. It aids the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium and the Arlandria Health Center. The church engages in social justice advocacy. It focuses on affordable housing and health services for the poor. It provides online access to Virginia prisons for families.
Flounder House now hosts classrooms and church archives. Elliot House holds church offices. The Education Building includes classrooms and a pre-school. The Presbyterian Cemetery continues to operate. In 2008, a columbarium opened for cremated remains.
This Old Presbyterian Meeting House stands not just as a building. It stands as a living story. Its walls echo with centuries of faith, community, and service.