029-0015

Frying Pan Meetinghouse

VLR Listing Date

12/11/1990

NRHP Listing Date

02/05/1991

NRHP Reference Number

91000016

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Baptists were among the few religious groups in Virginia that were openly accepting of African Americans. Frying Pan Meetinghouse is one of the state’s oldest surviving Baptist churches where a racially-integrated congregation was maintained from the very beginning. This simple meetinghouse traces its origins to 1775 when a Baptist congregation was organized at nearby Bull Run. Some of its members later wrote to Robert (“Councillor”) Carter requesting his permission to build a meetinghouse on land he owned near Frying Pan Spring. Carter agreed, and the present structure, erected by members of the congregation, was standing by 1791. The little-altered, wood-frame meetinghouse, is in the plain vernacular style favored by nonconformists. In 1984 the Frying Pan Meetinghouse property, located in the Floris Historic District, was acquired by Fairfax County Park Authority for a museum. The unusual name derives from a local legend which holds that Indians camping on the site were attacked by settlers and left behind their frying pan containing their meal.

Last Updated: February 17, 2024

Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.

Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark

For additional information Read

Nomination Form

029-0012

Drover’s Rest

Fairfax (County)

029-6069

Mount Vernon Enterprise Lodge #3488/Pride of Fairfax County Lodge #298

Fairfax (County)

029-6641

Bois Doré

Fairfax (County)