Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-10-11
cHuRcH 81 rHE ODD rImE.

4 (
The following very interesting description Of one
q The Chnrches Of he Oldsn time. was kinay fur
nished rs bya gentleman Of this town, Who n
Gently visited Lancaster county.
Among the memorials of early DAYS in virvinia
which y 50 rich I'M relics from past Fears one 81
the most interesting is church in Lancaster coun-
~. II l. moi 50 remarkable on account of in 1reaf
age-th0ugh few in this country can COMPETE viii
il IN this particulars for lie soundness Of tAe
structure which has stood 50 many years OF The
church a jamestown nothing remains but por-
tion Of the tower. This churck in Lancaster 3
nearly as old, and, which is most surprising. has
scarcely Begun 70 show the marks Of time.
i IS IN the form Of cross with foofs crossing
each other a. right angles. There Is door teach
end, excep< the eastern The walls are Of the best
English brick, laid solid IN cement and are thirty
inches in thickness, and apparently fruaer Than
when first erected. Even. the roof and other wood
work are Ia an almost perfect stale Of preservation
while brick wall surrounding the church erected
many wears subsequent has nearly disappeared
II i inished inside with black walnut carved in
very expensive manner. The pews and doors have
been RECONSTRUCTED the only repairs that have been
made on the church.
This venerable structure. was built By a single
individual named Jshn Carter. | was not able 10
ascertain the exact age of the bsiiding bat 1t is to
be found among the records Of The county. ] was
however, assured thatif is considerably above Two
hundred years OLD Aud tits is cofrobpratcd by
,othsE CIRCUMSTANCES b tradition II is known that
for many years, near half century, the owner an
tended Divine Service in this church. The time 81
his death is recorded slab over his grave, which
is in one of the atsles Of the church This relates
that he died in the year 1862 one hundIed and
eighty one years ago.
This inscription is in itself 4 curiosity. l. will
give literal cory Of il as it appears on the slab
g Here iycth buried yebody VI John Carter, Esq
who died We 10Th DAY OF Jan. Anno Donini 1861,
and also Jane ye daughter Of Mr.. Morgan Glynn aud
George her son and Eiinor Carter.
Ard Ann ye.daughter Of Mr. Ceage Carrier and
Sarah ye daughter Of Mr.. Gaba Ladowe and
Sarah her daughter which were ali his wires suck
sessivcly and dyed before him..
Blessed are We dead Hhisa DID in We lord even see
saith sc spirit for they rest from there labouFs and
there works doth follow them.
The number Of his wives has always been a
moeied point The Inscription Is sngnarly oA-
>scure n'this point and is worthy Of the Sphinx
Cne' hing iseeftain be had al beast three wives
Hi enthusiastically 4; some think he had five, and good
gfammafiansi regardless Of age OF SEX 50 even rs
high as six
Many anecdotes are told Of his John Carter
He was an arbitrary, aristocfatie hish-ehurehman
He possessed a tract OF land about ten miles in
tenSth and five in breath He built the church
costly ii must have been entirely at his own ex-
pense and afterwards presented il 10 the Episco-
palians Of the parish. Bat he had gate and door
cut oui for his own exclusive use and permfted ga
pefson but his own family To enter therein. His
gate was very massive, and on shutting. would
Slam so violently that he coald hear it d. his own
door five miles diktant This seems Incredible h6,
from the situation nf his house being hardly halt IS
far direcyto The church as indicated blythe road j.
is pesoiblc
4 His word was law thFougAoatihe parish and Be
sometimes used bis authority with vengeance. -
He had several oferseers and il was their duty b
direct and punish the labarers and he directed ard
punished the eyersecrs. Tying M. and whipping
was his inyaffable means OF administering justice
andi an oyerseet vert contrary 70 his wishes TIE
first thing to be dohe was TO have tie uniacky ia-
diyiiaal bound, ana he, with his own hands, would
Ia ,rly the lash The only reytng, the haplcss eul-
Rprit had was 10 turn about and l0g The men under
}his charge.
Another old settler is the original pulpit bible.
Long since tide page and every thing else that
could gisc.a clewto lis aye have disappeared, u
Is curious specimen Of typography and probably
one of the oldest samples of printing TO be found IN
this country
There are several Commissioners near the chufch q
well wrought and costly marble. They have been
there many years though OF much less age than the
church. Several have bcen shattered by lightning
Some Of HE inscriptions on4hese would also puzzle
reader ot plain English and one IN Lain,
Latin it IL, mus! have been written in The infancy
of he language, and is worthy 81 the attention
Ant rtaS u