Southwest Quadrant in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
First Catholic Church in Virginia
A. D. 1795
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2008
1. First Catholic Church in Virginia Marker
This stone taken from the canal of the Potomac Company of which Washington and Fitzgerald were Directors commemorates the erection of the First Catholic Church in Virginia, A. D. 1795, which stood until 1839 about twenty feet behind this marker.
In grateful acknowledgement of their aid in establishing this church the three trees to the north of this stone have been dedicated as follows to General George Washington as subscriber to the building, Colonel John Fitzerald, his favorite Aide de Camp, as the collector of the building fund, Colonel Robert Hooe, Major of Alexandria, as the donor of the acre of land.
In commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington this tablet was donated by the Holy Name Society of Sacred Heart Church (Vailsburg), Newark, N.J. on the 133rd anniversary of the funeral of Colonel John Fitzgerald, December 4, 1932.
Erected 1932 by Holy Name Society of Sacred Heart Church (Vailsburg), Newark, N.J.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 4, 1898.
Location. 38° 47.678′ N, 77° 2.945′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Graves Under South Washington Street (a few steps from this marker); Freedmen’s Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Former USCT Burial Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); Graves (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Original Saint Mary's Church (within shouting distance of this marker); 1955 Gas Station (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.
Also see . . .
1. . The following information was found on an earlier version of Saint Mary's Church's website. It is no longer available: “St. Mary’s was established in 1795, and is the oldest Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To fund the church, Colonel John Fitzgerald, friend of George Washington and an early mayor of Alexandria,
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2008
2. First Catholic Church in Virginia Marker
The marker states that the church stood 20 feet behind the marker. No signs of the foundation can be found among the gravestones.
2. Fitzgerald Warehouse, 6 King Street. Excerpt from Robert Madison’s book, Walking with Washington. “George Washington’s diary shows that he and [John] Fitzgerald met together frequently. Fitzgerald’s home was on the southeast corner of King and Fairfax Streets where the Burke & Herbert Bank is today. Since there was no Catholic church in Alexandria at that time, services were sometimes held in Fitzgerald’s home. According to tradition, while dining there on Saint Patrick’s Day in 1788, George Washington contributed to a fund to build Alexandria’s first Catholic Church.” (Submitted on June 21, 2008.)
3. Sacred Heart (of Vailsburg) Roman Catholic Church. The Holy Name Society from this Newark New Jersey church erected this marker in Alexandria Virginia. (Submitted on June 21, 2008.)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2008
3. First Catholic Church in Virginia Marker
There is no sign of three 76 year old trees to the the north.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2008
4. The Goods Monument and Gravesites
The monument and Goods gravesites are at the entrance to St. Mary's Cemetery, which is to the right of the marker. Gravestones date from the 1910s–1930s.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6,107 times since then and 71 times this year. Last updated on December 16, 2014. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 21, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
