When I first moved to Falls Church, I was confused when a relative referred to “The Falls Church” as though it were a specific building and not a city. Turns out, it’s both! And it’s an interesting story of how this one building has played a big part in our city’s history.

When we refer to The Falls Church, we are talking about the historic building that is located at 115 E Fairfax Street, near the intersection of Washington Blvd and Broad Street. But it wasn’t always the red brick structure we see today. The Falls Church was once a wooden structure built in 1734. There were very few churches in this area at the time and they were spaced widely apart. So, this particular church was referred to as the one near “the falls”, which meant the Potomac River.  The name, The Falls Church, officially took hold around 1757 when the first recorded reference was noted. 

The historic building has gone through many renovations and upgrades throughout the years. The first notable renovation took place in 1769, when the original wooden structure was entirely replaced by a new brick building designed by architect James Wren. George Washington was one of the church wardens in 1763 who reviewed construction bids on the new building. Despite additional renovations over the years, including repairs made after the Civil War, the structure of the church remains unchanged from 1769. 

The Falls Church played a big role in two significant wars. During the Revolutionary War, the church served as a recruiting station for the Fairfax militia. And during the Civil War, the building was used as a hospital for Union troops.  

Today, the Falls Church is surrounded by a Memorial Garden and Memorial Chapel. The historic building is still used for special occasions, such as the recitation of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, and you can also join a guided tour on the first Sunday of each month to learn more about the building’s history. 

The gravestones that surround The Falls Church are just as historic as the building itself. Some of these gravestones date all the way back to the 18th century (the 1700s), and some of the names and dates have faded so much over the years that we can no longer read them. But the oldest gravestone we can still read belongs to John Carolin who was born in 1764 and died in 1803. 

Among the other gravestones, we’ll find Simon Sommers (1747 – 1836), who is the only known Revolutionary War veteran buried at this site. You’ll find a bronze plaque next to his gravestone that identifies his service. Henry Fairfax is also buried here, and he lived from 1804 to 1847. He isn’t the same man that Fairfax County is named after (that would be Thomas Fairfax who lived much earlier, from 1693 – 1781), but Henry financed major renovations to the church in the 1830s and 1840s. There are also markers near the church to commemorate unknown Union and Confederate soldiers from the Civil War.

Other notable historical figures buried here include anti-slavery activist John D. Read (1812-1864), along with George and Ruben Ives who were all members of the Falls Church Home Guard, an interracial militia of Union loyalists that protected villagers during the Civil War. Artemesia Scott (1843 – 1908), who was a Confederate spy, is also buried here.

Members of the Bailey family are buried here as well. You might have heard of this famous family, they ran the Barnum and Bailey Circus. It’s interesting to note that the headstone for George F. Bailey is the tallest in the entire cemetery. The Ball-Dulaney family plots are located in front of the church. The Balls were related to George Washington’s mother, Mary Ball Washington. 

In the mid-1700s, the area surrounding the church began calling itself Falls Church; first as the village of Falls Church, then the Town of Falls Church. And in 1948, we officially became the City of Falls Church. And that’s how we ended up with The Falls Church located within Falls Church.