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2013 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 944
Commending Christ Church Episcopal.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2013
Agreed to by the Senate, February 22, 2013

 

WHEREAS, Christ Church Episcopal, a national historic landmark in Alexandria and one of the country’s oldest parishes, celebrated its 240th anniversary on February 10, 2013; and

WHEREAS, designed by James Wren and built by John Carlyle between 1767 and 1773, Christ Church Episcopal (Christ Church) has served many historic figures, including George Washington, Robert E. Lee, George Mason, and several United States presidents; and

WHEREAS, Dr. David Griffith, the rector of the parish in 1779, contributed greatly to the Commonwealth and the country by helping organize the Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church in the United States; and

WHEREAS, as the burying ground for Alexandria until 1809, the Christ Church churchyard holds a wealth of historical information; the Christ Church cemetery on Wilkes Street is the resting place of many members of the Lee and Mason families; and

WHEREAS, from 1811 to 1813, William Meade served as the rector of Christ Church; he was succeeded by Oliver Norris, who continued Meade’s success and arranged for the church’s official consecration as Christ Church; and

WHEREAS, William Meade and his associates went on to further enrich the Christ Church community, founding the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria in 1823; and

WHEREAS, during the Civil War, Christ Church’s reputation as George Washington’s place of worship helped preserve the church throughout the war; the Reverend Randolph H. McKim carried out renovations to the church in the postwar years; and

WHEREAS, the president of the United States traditionally visits Christ Church during his administration; on January 1, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Christ Church for the World Day of Prayer for Peace during World War II; and

WHEREAS, today, Christ Church serves a diverse group of more than 2,400 members who find common ground in their love of faith and fellowship; church members organize outreach missions both locally and globally; and

WHEREAS, the members of Christ Church are currently volunteering their time and talents in programs to help the homeless and underprivileged of Alexandria, abandoned girls in Honduras, mothers and children living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda, children in the Holy Land, and the persecuted church in Sudan; and

WHEREAS, Christ Church celebrated its 240 years of service to the community with a special liturgy on February 10, 2013, which included songs and special guests; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Christ Church Episcopal on the occasion of its 240th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Christ Church Episcopal as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the church’s storied history and service to the community.