In colonial Virginia, where the Church of England remained the established faith, Presbyterian worship was permitted but heavily restricted. By the early 18th century, Alexandria’s Presbyterian community began gathering informally in spaces like the Assembly Hall—quietly organizing services without a formal building or charter. Though legally tolerated, they faced ongoing social and legal limitations, including constraints on public visibility and official recognition. These early gatherings laid the groundwork for a more established Presbyterian presence in Alexandria in the decades that followed.