Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-11
a Century Gid.

DRAwYERs' PREsBYrEBIAN CHURCH - IT'S COMING
CENTENNIAL BOMB FACTS In TIE HISTORY OF
TaE CHURCH.
On Sunday next, the centennial anniversary Of
the old Drawyers Presbyterian Church, about
three-fourths Of mile east of odefsa, will be
celebrated. Some 10 or 16 years ago the congre-
CATION VIII ch we're wont to worship in this time
honored edihce built themselves new church,
larger and OF more modern design, 10 the town
of Odessa, and have since held service in the new
building. During the Intervening years the @
mother church has remained closed, except for
funerals and anniversary entertainments, and it
has become the favorite haunt OF bats and
owls, while all over 1t chambers the running
ivy, and antiquity is stamped over its very por-
tails. The burial ground which surrounds II Is,
however, kept in good order, and the modern
marble shafts which dot 1t here and there are In
strange keeping with the ancient edihce.
In tile celebration of this anniversary it is in
tended to mingle the past and the present. so
far as 1t can be done. Rev Joseph Wison. who
was ordained pastor Of the church in lo2z-ol
years ago-will be present, with all the succeed
ing pastors Of the church who are still living.
It will be happy reunion. The little boy who
used to sit under the sound OF the voice or Mr..
Wilson will once more meet him face to face,
but age has crept over both and the decrepitude
of years has sackened their PAGES and given 70
their frames a totter which proclaims that tney
are decaying with the church whose history they
of the present generation will look upon both
with strange thoughts, while fancies wild Will
play through his mind as he endeavors 10
catch from the past glimpse even OF the scenes
and recollections which will be unIoldeu;
The first house of worship erected on the gieDe
of the old Drawers Church stood on the
South east corner of the graveyard, directly 10
front of the grave OF JOS. Hill. 1t was OF woou'
but it's form and dimensions cannot now be as
certained. In 1856 it WAS enlarged but it seems
fn hau han anil m than
no records are in existence
| In 175l the 'studv house" was either built or
enlarged, and in 1897 the burying ground was
enclosed. In 1769 the house of worship being
decayeG, subscription was raised to build
| new one, the present edi6ce, but the building
was not erected until 1773. The bricks were
| burnt on the farm of Robt. Mildrum. afterwards
owned by Samuel Pennington, and few years
| ago portions OF the kiln were still visible.
Although begun in l773. the old Drawyer's
| church was not finished 80 early, and was only
| plastered in 1923 the funds for which work were
/ bequeathed by Mrs. Sarah Hyatt, who had died
| in 1920 The dimensions of the church are A by
| So feet In 1911 a new roof was put upon the
house, and in 1888 the pulpit and seats were re-
modelled, and the interior OF the house otherwise
| improved and painted.
The sum with which the church was built wat
contributed by one hundred and eighty-eigh'
individuals, and amounted to EllO5, l3s.
| In the interior walls Of the church are placed
/ two stones, opposite each other. One bears this
inscription: The church of the First Presbyter,
| ian Society in this hundred. Built A. ID, l77S
Rev. Thos. Read "A. M, Pastor. This stone thu
| gift OF Mrs. Mary HILL Serve the Lord will
gladdess" Upon the face of the other is en-
| graved. "This site YVES purchased May lOth
| I'LL. The first church built I'LL. kev. Johr
Wilson, pastor, 17OS. Your fathers, where are
they ~. This last stone was Inserted in tb'
| walls about 1872 but the first one was put IN
i when the church was first built.
The name OF the church is derived from thu
creek upon whose banks it stands - Drawyer 3
but whence the original name is derived is no
easy to determine. The first name OF the churc
was. "The Church of Appoquinimy." LIS corpo
rate title is, "The 1st Presbyterian Church il
st. Georges Hundred"
About l742 the Drawyer's Church divided. Tn
party which Withdrew, being called the New Side
we're formed into a society and erected meetln
house at st. Georges, and a Mr.. Robinson DC
came their first minister in 1743 or l744