Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-05-01
Sketches of Stony Run Church.

Sketches of Stony Run Church.
On the confines of Bath and Highland
midway between Monterey and th'
Warm Springs, there is stretch of Val
ley ofmuch beauty and fertility. Like
Avoca, it is a place where the bright
waters meet. About the centre of this
lovely valley is located the house of wor.
ship, on shaded knoll, commanding
limited, but exceedingly picturesque
views OF forests, meadows, pastures, val.
leys and mountain peaks.
Towards the East, there il a pass in
the mountains leading to the Little ant
Big valleys, whose rural inhabitants thu.
have convenient access to the church, in
the Jackson river valley.
1t is difficult to fancy how very at
tractive this region can become, when
once populated by persons of piety, ed
ucation, refined and elevated tastes, as
1t now promises to be, at an early day.
| Persons of the best character, have liv-
ed here from the earliest times, but their
numbers were too few, and their means
too limited to secure the advantages of a
permanent enlightened ministry, or the
general diffusion of liberal education.
! The first settlements were made by the
Wilson's from Augusta. Remains of the
old tenement are yet or very recently to
be seen near the mouth OF the Big Spring
Branch.
Owing to its secIusion, shut in by the
mountains. and approached by very rug
ged roads and paths, the visits of Pres
byterian ministers were very irregular
and transient, although the large pro
portion of the wealth and intelligence
inclined to that faith by decided and
immovable preference, which rendered
the well-meant, persistent and self deny
ing efforts of other brethren, in a great
degree, void OF permanent apparent re
suits.
About forty years ago, Rev. Jas. Paine,
preached in this vicinity several times
in private houses, and received some
members, who were enrolled at the
Warm Springs. ~
Rev. Robert N. Davis preached once
month for one or two years, (1845- 1877
which was about the first stated service
that was ever performed there, by our
ministry, unless Mr.. Paine's be consi-
dered such.
After Mr.. Davis returned to North
Carolina, there was period of ten years,
during which, it is believed no Presby-
terian minister preached there, unless it
was occasionally by the Rev.J. S. BIain,
then in charge of Williamsville church,
twelve miles beyond the mountains.
Soon after the writer located at the
Springs church. 1857, he formed the ac
quaintance of Michael Wise, Ruling
Elder of Warm Springs church, resi-
ding in this valley, eighteen miles from
his place ofworship. Upon visiting him
at his home, the writer was surprised as
well as charmed by the beauty and prom
ise every where manifest. He arranged
to have monthly religious services OIL
Saturdays, taking this route to Williams
vile, from the Warm Springs. At first.
mcst Ofthese Saturday services were held
and poles, and rooted in with rough
boards, kept in their places By press
poles, but in very dilapidated cOndi-
| tion.
Upon one occasion, the weather hav-
ing turned suddenly cold, the preacher
hunted up sticks for fire, while little
boy went for shovel of Goals. Some of
the slab benches were used in shutting
out the chilling October winds, blowing
like gale through the window, along
one whole side, as was the style in the
old field seminaries. After this, several
private dwellings were, in turn, opened
for our use. In the meantime, the peo
pie began to move in the matter of a
church. In riding along one day with
a gentleman, something was said about
appearances and the impressions made
by the same. The writer repeated in a
somewhat jocular manner the impress
sions thoughtful stranger would form
of the people, upon passing through their
country, and seeing no provision made
for the worship of God. Allusion was
made 10 the disadvantage under which
the young people would appear, away
from home, were it known they were
reared in a neighborhood without a
church.
"Parson, that is something that ought
to be attended to. But there is this about
it, we never could see the use of church,
without preacher to put in it. Presby-
terians seem to be skittish of this cOun-
try, but see from what you say, that a
church would be good thing just for
appearance sake, even if we do not sue
preachers. we will build church, and
then see if we can't throw little salt on
one of their black tails.
"Now, you talk in this way in your
preach some day, and have no doubt
we will have church, for the people are
plenty able"
When the matter was brought up one
day, it was duly discussed. And, as it
often happens, each family wanted it
near enough to walk to, and hence, there
were conflicting sites and interests to be
considered, but at length, there was suf-
ficient agreement on the present lOca
ton, to commence the work. In two or
three years matters advanced so far as
to have a Sabbath School, Saturday
preaching monthly, and Sabbath preach
ing two or three times a year, and one
communion season annually, by Presby-
terial supplies.
In 1868, Rev. r. G. Walker and the
writer, as committee Of Presbytery, Or
ganized church with two Elders, NJ
Wise and d. G. Cleek, one Deacon, II.
Brown, and thirteen members. Soon
after that, Rev. j. III. Fl. Winfee was in
stalled pastor, a portion of his time.
This excellent brother labored with
great fidelity and efficiency for two or
three years. Since his resignation the
people had occasional supplies. Last
year the Rev. Samuel McCune became
their pastor, and good report comes up.
The writer's recollections of the time
spent among this people are touching
and pleasant. HIS feelings are deeply
moved when he thinks of Irene Brown
and her sister buried in the same grave
Irene, after the diphtheria had silenced
her, motioned for paper and pencil.-