Payne’s Church (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this trailside historical marker:

Placed by Providence Chapter, NSDAR. 1985
Site of Payne’s Church
Church of England…..
1768


<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>
<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>

Regarding Payne’s Church:
The brick colonial church building on this site was abandoned after the Revolution when the Church of England ceased to be the established church. It became a Baptist church in 1840. The brick church was torn down by Union troops during the Civil War and the bricks used to build winter quarters. In 1866 the brick church was replaced by the frame structure that stands today.


<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>
<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>

Here follows an excerpt from the Jerusalem Church website:

Jerusalem Baptist Church predates the Revolutionary War and the Constitution of the United States. Originally founded as Payne’s Church, the church’s roots began as part of the Church of England (today’s Episcopal church) in 1766. It remained Payne’s Church until 1840 when Jerusalem Baptist Church was formed. We met in the historic white chapel for many years until the congregation built the larger building we use today in the 1960s.

A Bright Future
As we move into the 21st century, Jerusalem Baptist Church is embarking on a new era. We are worshiping as an international congregation with Arabic, Korean, and Spanish fellowships worshiping and walking with the Lord beside us.


<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>
<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>

Here follows an excerpt from the 1970 Fairfax County Master Inventory of Historic Sites which contained entries from the Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory:

The Jerusalem Church of Jesus Christ was organized in 1840. It met in the old brick structure known as "Payne's Church," which had been built by Edward Payne for Truro Parish in 1768 and abandoned after the disestablishment of the state church following the American Revolution.

During the Civil War, the brick church was demolished by Union soldiers who took the bricks to build chimneys in their nearby camps. (See Philip Slaughter, "The History of Truro Parish in Virginia," Philadelphia, George W. Jacobs & Co., 1908.)

In 1865, a frame and clapboard structure was built by the Jerusalem Baptist Church (New School) inside the old foundations. The structure had rectangular windows, shutters, and wooden roofing shingles. In 1898, the windows were redesigned with arches, and the tin roof was added. In 1952, an extension for Sunday School rooms was put on the back of the church. A new brick church building was completed in 1968 on an adjacent tract of land.

The cemetery, part of which dates back to Payne's Church, occupies a portion of the present church property.