USA > Virginia > Prince Edward County > Prince Edward County > A history of Prince Edward County, Virginia: from its formation in 1753, to the present > Part 13
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. The Presbyterian Church in Prince Edward County. (General History.) The Farmville Presbyterian Church. College Presbyterian Church. (Hampden-Sidney.) Jamestown Presbyterian Church. (Rice.)
5. Disciples of Christ. Liberty Church.
6. Colored Churches.
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THE CHURCHES OF PRINCE EDWARD
BAPTISTS IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
The first Baptist Church established in Virginia, was the Burleigh Church in Isle of Wight County (now known as the Mill Swamp Baptist Church), organized in, or about the year of 1714. (McClothlin.)
Long before the Revolutionary War, the Baptists in Vir- ginia had reached considerable numbers and had attxine.1 some prominence and prestige.
The following from the Manuscript Journal of the House of Delegates, 1773-1774, suggests something of the prominence they had already attained :
Thursday, the 12th of May, 14 George III., 1774 .- "A petition of sundry persons of the community of Christians called Baptists, and other Protestant dissenters, whose names are thereto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read, setting forth that the toleration proposed by the bill, ordered at the last session of the General Assembly to be printed and published, not admitting public worship except in the daytime, is inconsistent with the laws of England, as well as the practice and usage of the primitive Churches, and even of the English Church itself: that the night session may some- times be better spared by the petitioners from the necessary duties of their callings, and that they wish for no indulgences which may disturb the peace of Government," etc.
What action the House took on the Petition is not stated in the Journal.
That they, at that time, interested themselves in questions of public moment is evident from an Address presented by them to Patrick Henry upon the occasion of his first eleva-
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tion as Governor of Virginia. Of all the congratulatory mes- sages received by him at that time, probably none came so straight from the heart as did this one from the distressed and persecuted dissenters in Virginia, called Baptists, who had learned, in many an hour of bitter need, to look upon him as their strong and valiant champion, in the Legislature and in the Courts. He was not of their persuasion, being him- self an Episcopalian, nevertheless, on August 12, 1776, "the ministers and delegates of the Baptist churches" of the State, being met in Convention at Louisa, sent him the following Address :
"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,-As your advancement to the honorable and important station as Gov- ernor of this Commonwealth affords us unspeakable pleasure we beg leave to present your Excellency with our most cor- dial congratulations.
"Your public virtues are such that we are under no temp- tation to flatter you. Virginia has done honor to her judg- ment in appointing your Excellency to hold the reins of gov- ernment at this truly critical conjuncture, as you have al- ways distinguished yourself by your zeal and activity for her welfare, in whatever department has been assigned to you
"As a religious community, we have nothing to request of you. Your constant attachment to the glorious cause of liberty and the right of conscience, leaves us no room to doubt your Excellency's favorable regards while we worthily de- mean ourselves.
"May God Almighty continue you long, very long, a public blessing to this your native country, and, after a life of usefulness here, crown you with immortal felicity in the world to come.
Signed by order: Jeremiah Walker, Moderator. John Williams, Clerk."
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To this loving and touching address, the Governor re- plied, on the very next day, in an off-hand letter, showing deep feeling and a very natural gratification :-
"TO THE MINISTERS AND DELEGATES OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES, AND THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMUNION.
"GENTLEMEN,-I am exceedingly obliged to you for your very kind address, and the favorable sentiments you are pleased to entertain respecting my conduct and the prin- ciples which have directed it. My constant endeavor shall be to guard the rights of all my fellow-citizens from every encroachment.
"I am happy to find a catholic spirit prevailing in our country, and that those religious distinctions, which formerly produced some heat, are now forgotten. Happy must every friend to virtue and America feel himself, to perceive that the only contest among us, at the most critical and important period, is, who shall be foremost to preserve our religious and civil liberties.
"My most earnest wish is, that Christian charity, for- bearance, and love, may unite all our different persuasions, as brethren who must perish or triumph together; and I trust that the time is not far distant when we shall greet each other as the peaceable possessors of that just and equal system of liberty adopted by the last convention, and in sup- port of which may God crown our arms with success.
"I am, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,
P. Henry, Jun.
August 13, 1776"
(American Arch., i. 905, 906.)
The Baptist churches of Prince Edward county, main- tain membership in the Appomattox Association. This As-
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ciation grew out of the old Middle District Association, which, at a meeting held at Rice's station (its second) on May 9, 1785, sent out the Meherrin, and the Appomattox Associations, itself retaining the name of Middle District Association.
The first meeting of the newly formed Appomattox As- sociation was held in Prince Edward county, at Walker's Church the same year. Four of the churches forming the new Association were located in Prince Edward; viz: Rocks, organized 1772; Appomattox, 1773; Sailor Creek, 1781; and, Mountain Creek, 1788. Of these four, only Rocks and Ap- pomattox remain, but are now, by reason of a later county division, both in Appomattox county.
The meeting house of Sailor Creek Church was located about one-half mile from Rice on the road leading to Farm- ville. It was destroyed by a cyclone in 1832. On August 15, 1857, Pisgah Church, (Rice) was formed at Union, and, in 1881 moved to their present building at Rice's Station. Pis- gah is thus the lienal descendant of Sailor Creek Church.
The Mountain Creek Church has passed out of the memory of the present generation. The Church building is supposed to have stood about two and a half miles northwest of Green Bay station, in Prince Edward county.
It is considered probable that Sandy River Church, (Sharon) formed in 1827, and situated about five miles dis- tant, absorbed the membership of the Mountain Creek Church.
A severe controversy arose in 1832-1834, between the Methodists and the Baptists, over the building occupied by the Baptists at Sandy River, which ended by the Baptists retaining possession.
The following Baptist Churches are located in Prince Edward county :
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Bagby Memorial. Bethpeor. Farmville. Mount Nebo. Pisgah. (Rice) Sharon. (Sandy River) Spring Creek.
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BAGBY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH
For several years prior to 1903 preaching services were held at a little schoolhouse hard-by the site upon which stands the place of worship of this congregation. It is known that J. R. Doan, now pastor of the Baptist Church at South Boston, while pastor of the Burkeville Baptist Church, and F. W. Moore, now pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Petersburg, Virginia, both went time and again to preach at this school house. Especial interest was shown in the spirit- ual needs of the people of this neighborhood, by Dr. George R. Bagby, while he was pastor of the Baptist Church at Farmville, Virginia.
On April 18, 1903, Rev. Dr. W. J. Shipman; Rev. W. Moseley Seay; and F. L. Overton, effected the organization of a Baptist Church here, to be known as the Bagby Memorial Baptist Church, the name being given in honor of Dr. George R. Bagby, of Farmville. Mr. Seay became the first pastor of the new Church. The Rev. W. B. Daugherty followed Mr. Seay and served during 1904-5. Then followed Rev. Z. J. Edge, 1906; Rev. W. T. Woodhouse, 1907-8, returning to serve from 1910 to 1917. The Rev. Dr. J. M. Pilcher was supply pastor for a term of months in 1909. Beginning No- vember 1, 1917, the Rev. Dr. John E. White has been the pastor.
The Church had but few charter members and was ad- mitted into the Appomattox Association of Baptist Churches in 1904.
The first deacons were: J. C. Moring; P. N. Jenkins; W. V. Clements; and W. T. Gibbs. Its present deacons are : C. L. Elliott; G. P. Nunnally ; J. R. Moring; E. P. Johnson; and A. Lee cook.
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The present membership of the Church is ninety-nine.
The Church building occupies a desirable and well lo- cated site, about three and a half miles from Burkeville and near to the road which leads from that town to Farmville, and is valued at about $850.
The Church was represented by three of its young men in the great war. Daniel K. Harris, son of the Rev. D. J. Harris, went to Camp Lee, but was soon transferred to a hospital suffering with tuberculosis. Later he returned to his father's home in Prince Edward county, and early in 1920, died in Roanoke, Virginia.
James Oscar Thompson enlisted at Farmville, September 10, 1918, and saw service in France.
J. Grady Redford entered Camp Lee in September, 1917. In February, 1919, he was returned from France, having been severely wounded in the right shoulder and arm. He was discharged from the hospital in August, 1919. He was with the 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division.
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FARMVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
The Farmville Baptist Church was organized, Novem- ber 25, 1836, by the Rev. William Moore, who remained its Minister from that date until 1840. In a brief historical sketch by the late Dr. Peter Winston, it is noted that Sam and Phil White (colored) were the first members of the Church.
B. M. Robertson; Frank Robertson; W. Nunnally; and G. Nunnally were the first deacons of the Church, and the following were registered as charter members:
Benjamin M. Robertson;
Mrs. E. R. Robertson ;
C. E. Chappell;
Mrs. A. B. Chappell;
Miss Mary Harwood;
M. Grigg;
Mrs. Edith Mann;
Mrs. Jane Williams;
Granville Nunnally;
Mrs. Betsy Nunnally;
Washington Nunnally ;
Mrs. Judith Nunnally ;
Jeremiah Porter;
Mrs. Jeremiah Porter; Reuben Seay;
Royall Godsey;
Mrs. Delilah Godsey;
Thomas J. Valentine ;
Shelton Davis;
Mrs. Mary Davis;
Mandy Porter;
Samuel White; (colored)
Phil White; (colored). 23 in all.
The Rev. William Moore, the first pastor, was assisted
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in the organization of the Church by the Revs. Daniel Witt, and Elijah Roach.
The Church building was finished within a year and in 1837, was formally dedicated to the worship of God, by the celebrated Rev. Daniel Witt, whose remains lie buried in the little graveyard of the Sandy River Baptist Church, some eight miles distant from Farmville.
The first Church building, a modest structure, continued to meet the needs of the new congregation until 1856, when, during the pastorate of the Rev. James Hay, a new building was erected on the present site, and formally dedicated in February of that year by the Rev. Dr. T. G. Jones.
This second building continued to serve the needs of the congregation until 1912, when the present beautiful and finely equipped Church building and Sunday School plant was erected during the pastorate of the Rev. Willis L. Wayts, and formally dedicated to Divine worship on Novem- ber 1, 1914, by the Rev. Dr. G. W. Perryman, of Norfolk, Va., who offered the dedicatory prayer and preached the ser- mon of the day. Dr. Perryman was assisted in these im- pressive services by the Rev. H. M. Fugate, a former pastor, and by the then pastor, the Rev. Willis L. Wayts. The total cost of the plant, according to a minute upon the Church Register of January 3, 1915, was $24,033.93, without pipe organ and other furnishings. Under the same date there is an entry regarding a payment on pipe organ and furnish- ings of $1,255.32, in a report presented by Mrs. (Dr.) R. L. Hudgins, treasurer of the Pipe Organ Fund.
From the completion of the new Church building, the congregation has enjoyed an almost phenomenal growth, so that the premises are already too circumscribed for the large congregations. The property is situated on Main Street, in the very heart of the business section of the city.
The current issue of the minutes of the Appomattox As-
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sociation of Baptist Churches gives the following interest- ing figures regarding this Church as reported at the As- sociational Meeting held with the Maple Grove Baptist Church, July 19-20, 1921 :
Membership of the Church 504
Baptisms for the year 56
Total new members received during the year 101 Sunday School enrollment 397
Sunday School income $ 430.57
Church income, total from all sources 14,014.00
Benevolence, (included in above total) 3,755.62
Per capita, (including all depts.) 27.80
Value of Church building
35,000
Value of parsonage
8,000
Total $43,000
The following ministers have served the Church since its inception :
Rev. William Moore, 1836-1840. Organized the Church and built the first Church building, 1836.
Rev. James H. Fox, 1840-1842.
Rev. Thomas W. Syndor, 1842-44.
Rev. James W. Goodman, 1844-1846.
Rev. Robert Nowlin, 1846-1848.
Rev. WIliam Sedgwick, 1848-1849. Served only six , months.
Rev. William Tyree, 1849-1852.
Rev. James Hay, 1852-1858. It was during his pasto- rate that the second Church building was erected, 1856.
Rev. S. C. Boston, 1858-1859.
Rev. A. J. Huntington, 1859-1862.
Rev. Robert East, 1862-1865.
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Rev. S. C. Boston, 1865-1867. Second pastorate.
Rev. N. W. Wilson, 1867-1869. Died of yellow fever in North Carolina.
Rev. H. J. Handy, 1869-1875. Died in Maryland.
Rev. James Nelson, D. D., 1875-1885. Was the organizer of the State Normal School for women, Farmville, and later was President of the Woman's College, Richmond, Va. Died, 1921.
Rev. W. F. Kone, 1885-1891. Died in Kentucky.
Rev. George F. Bagby, D. D., 1891-1899. Died of cancer.
Rev. Samuel H. Thompson, 1900-1904. Died of cancer. Rev. R. A. McFarland, 1904-1906. Went to Seminary.
Rev. J. D. Harte, 1906-1907. Served for only four months. Resigned; ill-health.
Rev. Henry M. Fugate, 1907-1911.
Rev. Willis L. Wayts, 1912-1915. Resigned; ill health. It was during his pastorate that the present edifice was erected.
Rev. Cosby M. Robertson, A. B., B. D., 1916-1918. Re- signed to enter Navy as Chaplain during the Great War.
Rev. C. Edward Burrell, LL. B., D. D., 1919. Came to the Church from Camp Lee, where he served as Chaplain during the Great War, and is still with the Church.
The present officers of the Church (1921) are:
Rev. C. Edward Burrell, LL. B., D. D., Minister.
Dr. J. H. Cocks, Clerk.
R. C. Gilliam, Corresponding Secretary.
L. A. Smith, Treasurer.
C. A. Kennedy, Financial Secretary.
E. L. Erambert, Honorary Deacon.
J. A. Armisted; E. W. Sanford; C. M. Smith; Anderson Ligon; Frank Pillow; Dr. J. H. Cocks; W. C. Fallwell; T.
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H. Fallwell; R. W. Noel; O. S. Mann; S. W. Putney; L. A. Smith, Deacons.
Mesdames J. L. Horner, R. W. Noel; J. L. Putney; E. W. Ellington; Colin Stokes; J. A. Armistead; W. P. Gilliam, Deaconesses.
Mrs. W. B. Hobson, Organist.
T. H. Fallwell, Missionary Treasurer.
J. L. Putney, Chairman Finance Committee.
William H. Crenshaw, Chairman Property Committee. G. S. Thomas, Chairman Missionary Committee.
E. W. Sanford, Chairman Music Committee.
Fred Butcher, Chief Usher.
M. W. Whitlock, Assistant Chief Usher.
R. C. Gilliam and S. W. Putney, Auditors.
W. C. Fallwell, Sunday School Superintendent.
This Church had sixteen (16) men in the various branches of the service during the great war, 1914-1918.
The Rev. Cosby M. Robertson, B. A .; B. D., pastor of the Church at the outbreak of hostilities, resigned his pas- torate to become Chaplain in the Navy, in which position he served throughout the war, with the rank of Captain.
Dr. J. H. Cocks, the Clerk of the Church, entered the service with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was later trans- ferred to the dental branch. He received his commission as Captain, on the field during the fighting in the Argonne Woods, where he was wounded.
William H. Crenshaw, received his commission as 1st Lieutenant, from the Officers Training School but did not succeed in getting overseas.
TIenry A. Kelsey was appointed Sergeant.
Lawrie W. Thompson was made a Corporal.
The following served as Privates: T. H. Crenshaw : Gar-
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land Hurst; Walter S. Overton; Peter Raymond; Harry S. Thompson; Cary M. Smith. Jr .; John W. Webster: M. Guy Smith; T. Elbert Osborne; F. L. Magann; J. W. Mottley ; C. M. Noel.
All these men, save Lieutenant William H. Crenshaw, and private Cary M. Smith, Jr., F. L. Magann, and C. M. Noel, saw service overseas.
Privates Guy M. Smith, and John W. Webster were killed in action, and T. Elbert Osborne died of wounds re- ceived in battle.
The present pastor of the Church, the Rev. Charles Edward Burrell, LL. B., D. D., was stationed at Camp Lee during 1918-19 in the capacity of special Camp Chaplain.
One of the women of the Church, Miss L. Wheeler, saw service overseas with the Red Cross.
Throughout the war the general attitude of the Church was fervently patriotic. All Federal requests for announce- ments and discourses were most heartily responded to. Special prayers for soldiers and sailors were continually offered and several patriotic services were held. A service flag was erected and there was a formal dedication of the same, and the national colors were displayed. The Women's Organizations, together with the Men's Bible Class, co- operated in welfare work for men in uniform. A special memorial service for those who died in service was held. Food conservation was urged from the pulpit and practised by the membership of the Church in a general way, and they participated most heartily in the work of war charities, both at home and abroad, by way of special offerings, collections, etc.
This Church was the first in the county to fittingly com- memorate the service rendered by the members of its congre- gation in the war. This was done by the erection of a suit-
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able tablet in the main auditorium of the building. Ex- cerpts from the report of the unveiling ceremonies, which appeared in the Farmville "Herald" of November 18, 1921, follow: "On last Sunday afternoon at 3:30, very appropri- ate services were held at the unveiling of the tablet dedi- cated to the boys who were in the service during the late war. A beautiful service was conducted by the American Legion, accompanied by the Farmville Silver Band; the Farmville Guard being the guard of honor. * The * tablet is made of white Rutland marble, twenty inches wide and four and one-half feet long. The names of Millard G. Smith, John W. Webster and Thomas Osborne, the three boys from the Baptist Church who made the Supreme Sac- rifice, are carved in gold. Those in the service were, Revs. Robertson and Burrell, J. H. Cocks, W. H. Crenshaw, Henry A. Kelsey, Lawrie W. Thompson, Thos. H. Cren- shaw, Raymond E. Phillips, Dallas G. Hurst, Walter S. Overton, Peter Raymond, Henry S. Thompson, Cary M. Smith, Jr., Joel W. Mottley, and Charles M. Noel.
"The presentation address was delivered by Dr. J. D. Eggleston, of Hampden-Sidney College, who paid tribute to those who had so nobly served their country, and the many who had died to save Christianity, Democracy and the world from the despotic heel of an unscrupulous beast.
"The Star Spangled Banner was rendered by the band, following which the American Legion Service was continued, including acceptance address by Commander J. H. Cocks, prayer of dedication by Chaplain Burrell, and dedication by Commander J. H. Cocks. The services concluded with the benediction by Chaplain Burrell."
The tablet was unveiled by the Misses Lucy Lee Webster and Blanche Smith, sisters of two of the men who were killed in battle.
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Others to take part in the service were, the Rev. Dr. E. G. Gammon, the Rev. Dr. George Spooner, and the Rev. Frederick Diehl. The Baptist Church Choir, Miss Evelyn Barnes, and Joseph A. Poole, rendered special music.
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PISGAH BAPTIST CHURCH, RICE
Only the most meagre outline of the history of Pisgah Baptist Church, Rice, Va., is available, all Church records prior to about fifteen years ago being lost. Much of the in- cidental history regarding Baptist work in this section of the county is, however, given in the general article on Bap- test churches in the county. The following brief sketch is furnished by Mr. J. R. Weaver, one of the oldest surviving members of the Church.
Pisgah Church was constituted at Union Church, in Prince Edward county, about two miles east of Rice Sta- tion, in 1857.
Union Church was known as a free Church, that is, it was free to all denominations. The celebrated Daniel Witt, D. D., was the pastor until his death in 1871.
1872. Rev. S. J. Adkins was pastor for five or six years.
1878. Rev. J. H. Newbill was pastor for two or three years.
1880. Rev. J. A. Leslie was pastor for about five years. It was during the ministry of Mr. Leslie that the Church moved to Rice and erected a new house of worship there. They have since then retained the property then purchased.
1886. Rev. W. B. Haislip was pastor for two or three years.
1889. Rev. J. W. Wildman was pastor for about four years.
1894. Rev. W. R. D. Moncure was pastor for two or three years.
1896. Rev. E. M. Dowley was pastor for two or three years.
1898. Rev. A. B. Rudd was pastor tor five months, re- signing to accept Missionary work in Porto Rico.
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1898. Rev. G. F. Bagby, D. D., was pastor for about two years.
1901. Rev. W. J. Shipman was pastor until his death, August, 1915.
From 1915 the Church was served by supplies from various sources, until 1917, when, January 1st of that year, the Rev. Horace J. Parker assumed the pastorate, remain- ing until June 30, 1920. The Rev. George F. Cook assumed the pastorate on September 1st, 1920 and resigned, Sep- tember 26, 1921.
The present Church officers are: Trustees: J. S. Brad- shaw, B. J. Olgers, and J. R. Weaver. Deacons: J. S. Bradshaw, S. D. Hubbard, B. J. Olgers, R. B. Walthall, J. R. Weaver, and J. W. Bradshaw.
Treasurer : S. D. Hubbard.
Apportionment Treasurer : J. S. Bradshaw.
Sunday School Superintendent : B. J. Olgers.
Clerk: J. R. Weaver.
The following report of the war activities of the Church was furnished the War History Commission, by the then pas- tor, the Rev. H. J. Parker: "There were seven men who served in the Army from this Church, and their names are as fol- lows: William T. Bondurant, John C. Bondurant, William Hester Bondurant, R. Melve Bradshaw, Herbert Guy Far- ley, Thomas Howard Garnett, John Edward Garnett.
The only one in the Navy was James W. Wilson, Jr.
IIerbert Guy Farley saw active service and was slightly wounded at Argonne Forest. Thomas Howard Garnett and John Edward Garnett also saw active service.
The general attitude of this Church was one of loyalty toward war activities. The members united heartily in the
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National Prayer Observance and other Spiritual activities. Federal requests for anouncements were frequently made by the pastor at the regular preaching services. There was displayed in the main auditorium, a service flag.
The Church heartily participated in war charities at home and abroad by way of specal collections. Members of the congregation strictly observed set rules in order to con- serve food and fuel during the war."
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MOUNT NEBO BAPTIST CHURCH
This Church is situated near the Abilene Post Office, on the county line road, between Prince Edward and Charlotte counties.
A partially successful attempt was made to organize on the 29th of November, 1903, but the organization languished until a more thorough organization was effected on the 1st of July, 1904.
The following pastors have served the Church:
Rev. J. B. Williams; June, 1904-July, 1906.
Rev. George R. Pankey; November, 1906-January, 1910.
Rev. J. E. Tucker ; March, 1910-May, 1911.
Rev. P. H. Dalton; June, 1911-August, 1911.
Rev. John E. White; February, 1912-January, 1916.
Rev. J. A. Barnhardt; April, 1916-March, 1920.
Rev. W. F. Hunt: May, 1920-August, 1920.
Rev. G. A. Harris, present supply.
The Rev. W. E. Warren was serving the field when the Church was organized, 1903.
Deacons: J. R. Pollard; J. W. Pankey; T. B. Yeamen; and P. A. Denton.
Clerk: O. L. Vassar.
Treasurer : C. E. Bagby.
These officers are serving the Church at the present time.
The present membership of the Church is 72.
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