George Washington's Christian Faith

George Washington's Christian faith can no more be called into question than his American patriotism.

Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge (PD)

A young “Red Coat”, age 23, rides fiercely in the midst of severe battle delivering the orders of his dying general as his unit is whipped by shots from every side. Four bullets rip into his jacket and two horses are shot out from under him. But he is not wounded. In acts of desperation he encourages his men to retreat and survive, saving the lives of many by his courage. He is the only officer still mounted on horseback out maneuvering the hail of bullets.

Miraculously, he rides. 63 of 86 officers are killed or wounded in the French and Indian ambush along the Monongahela River. The date is July 9, 1775. George Washington served as volunteer aide-de-camp to British General Edward Braddock then gasping for life. The ambush occurred just seven miles short of their objective, Fort Duquesne.

“Protected by the angels,” 

his countrymen said.

Washington lived to serve the Colonies in the Continental Congress, then as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, first President of the United States, and was ultimately proclaimed “Father of His Country.”

Nelly Curtis Lewis wrote a letter to historian Jared Sparks explaining Washington's faith, dated 2/26/1833. Nelly was the Washington's granddaughter but was raised by them from birth at Mount Vernon for twenty years after her own father died. She called George and Martha her “beloved parents whom I loved with so much devotion.”

Washington's Faith.

Nelly told how the Washington's attended the beautiful Mount Vernon Pohick Church where George served as vestryman. His pew was near the pulpit. When serving the colonies in Alexandria, he attended Christ Church. In New York and Philadelphia, she wrote, he never omitted attending church. “No one in church attended to the services with more reverential respect.”

At home, George rose before the sun and remained in his library until breakfast. He was not one of those who prayed to be seen by men. Nelly said at times she noticed his lips moving, but no sound was perceptible. Martha, herself, never omitted her private devotions. George Washington was a devout Episcopalian.

“I now make it my earnest prayer that God would...most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of the mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion,” Washington stated in his closing address to Congress.

“Deeds, not Words” and “For God and my Country”

are George Washington's mottoes.

Resources: Wallbuilders.com

Barton, David, The Founding Fathers on Jesus, Christianity and the Bible. Wall Builders, 05-2006. <http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=8755#FN125>

Barton, David, Was George Washington a Christian? Wall Builders, 01-01-2000. <http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=127>

George Washington, The Last Official Address of His Excellency George Washington to the Legislature of the United States (Hartford: Hudson & Goodwin, 1783), p. 12; see also The New Annual Register or General Repository of History, Politics, and Literature, for the year 1783 (London: G. Robinson, 1784) p. 150.]

Spivey, Larkin, Miracles of the American Revolution. Fairfax: Allegiance Press, 2004. <http://www.amazon.com/Miracles-American-Revolution-Intervention-Republic/dp/1594672032/ref=sr_1_1>

– Bill Hunt

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For more information: George Washington

George Washington The Christian

How Washington Prayed