Fairfax, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Baptismal Area

Photographed by Patricia Strat, May 21, 2021

1. Old Baptismal Area Marker

Inscription. Local residents recall the period through the 1930s when Mount Calvary Baptist Church regularly conducted baptismal services in the Accotink Branch, in the pool formed at its confluence with the Tussico. White-robed candidates were immersed by the church clergy as they were baptized into the Christian community. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, founded 1870, is believed to be the first African-American church in the city of Fairfax.

Erected 2007 by City of Fairfax - Historic Fairfax City, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 38° 51.032′ N, 77° 18.449′ W. Marker is in Fairfax, Virginia. It can be reached from Chain Bridge Road (State Highway 123) south of Kenmore Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. William Gunnell House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Moore House (approx. ¼ mile away); Mosby (approx. ¼ mile away); Efe Quality House (approx. ¼ mile away); Gen. Corcoran (approx. ¼ mile away); Home of Antonia Ford

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Ford Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Old Fairfax Jail (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfax.

More about this marker. The marker is in Bells Bird Sanctuary Park, near where Accotink Creek flows under Chain Bridge Road (Route 123).

Photographed by Patricia Strat, May 21, 2021

2. Old Baptismal Area Marker

Pedestrian bridge over Accotink Creek leading to Kenmore Drive.

Photographed by Patricia Strat, May 21, 2021

3. Old Baptismal Area Marker

Marker is located at the western end of Bells Bird Sanctuary Park.

Old Baptismal Area marker at its original location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, February 7, 2008

4. Old Baptismal Area marker at its original location

That old location was at the corner of Chain Bridge Road and Kenmore Drive. The bridge shown here no longer exists and the marker is now at the other end of the new pedestrian bridge, further into the park.

Mount Calvary Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by David Rozzelle, December 21, 2024

5. Mount Calvary Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,026 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on May 21, 2021, by Patricia Strat of Oakton, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 21, 2021, by Patricia Strat of Oakton, Virginia. 4. submitted on February 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on January 10, 2025, by David Rozzelle of Knoxville, Tennessee. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of Mount Calvary Baptist Church • Can you help?