Front View of St. Paul's Episcopal
Church
Photograph courtesy of Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center for Genealogy
and Local History, Bull Run Regional Library, Prince William County
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Haymarket's Episcopal church was built in 1801 as a district courthouse
for the counties of Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William. Like
other early 19th-century Virginia courthouses it originally had an arcaded
entrance. The district court was accommodated here until 1807 when changes
in the court system resulted in the eventual sale of the building and
its conversion to an academy. It was first used as an Episcopal church
in 1822 and was consecrated by Bishop William Meade in 1834. Near both
the first and second battles of Manassas, both sides at different times
used it as a hospital. In November 1862 Union troops converted the building
to a stable and then burned it. The congregation rebuilt within the original
walls in 1867, at which time the arcade was closed up for the narthex
and the belfry and bracketed cornice were added.
The St. Paul's Episcopal Church is located off State Rte. 55, in
Haymarket. It is generally not open for tours, but large tour groups
can call 703-754-7536 for information and possible interior viewing. Sunday Church services at 8:00am, 9:30am (children's event) and 10:30 (changed to 10:00am during the summer) are open to everyone.
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