Cemetery of The Falls Church, Falls Church, Virginia

The photos below were taken at the cemetery of The Falls Church, for which Falls Church, Virginia, was named. According to the historical marker, “This Georgian-style church designed and built in 1767-69 by James Wren, related to Sir Christopher, replacing the 1733 frame structure on 2-acre lot (part of 1729 248-acre Trammel grant). Washington and Mason were vestrymen. After the 1788 disestablishment of the Church of England, fell into disuse until repaired in the 1830s. Union troops used it as a Civil War hospital and stable. Repaired by 1866, an Episcopal congregation has worshipped here since 1873. In 1959, church chancel narthex and galleries were added. Adjacent structures were built in 1952 and 1992. Church gravestones date to 1803.”

The “repair” referred to as having taken place in 1866 was necessary due to the fact that the church had been vandalized by Federal troops; a picture of the damaged church can be seen here.




During the cold and overcast winter months here in Falls Church, I decided I would postpone photographing the graves in the cemetery until the sunnier summer months. This was actually not the best course to have followed, as I found out when I returned on the sunny day on which these photographs were taken. In the summer large trees keep most of the tombstones in the shade for most of the day. You can see that some of these are in the sun, but unfortunately I paused to speak with one of the church members and within perhaps 15-20 minutes storm clouds quickly moved in and eliminated the possibility of further photography. I can either return in the summer during the brief part of the day during which these tombstones are in the sun or postpone all further photography until the winter, when the trees have lost their leaves. The best-laid plans....