The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-02
CHURCH DEDICATION.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT Way
NEsBoRo'-ITs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT Way
NEsBoRo'-ITs HIsToRY--D DEDICATION
| SERVICES, &C.
The new Presbyterian Church at Waynes-
boro' was dedicated on Sunday last. The
Indictment weather did not prevent crowd
from attending, and at the hour for begin
ming services both auditorium and gallery
were filled. DR.. B. N. Smith. of Union
Theological Seminary, was there to preach
the dedication sermon, and Rev. W. T. Rich
ardson, was present also to take part in the
services. Besides these two gentlemen and
the pastor, Rev. Frank McCutchen, we no.
ticed in the pulpit Rev. Mr.. Grablll, of the
Methodist Church. Before the sermon be-
gan, Mr.. McCutchen read short sketch OF
the history of the Waynesboro' Presbyterian
Church, before and since its separation from
the church at rinkling Springs.
About the year 1898, when the town Of
Waynesboro' was begun, the principal part
of the ground now occupied as cemetery,
was given to the town by Mr.. James Flack
as site for a church and bury ng-ground.
Upon this ground an humble frame struc-
ture was erected to be used as a Union
| Church. This church stood until 1924, when
| it gave place to the brick structure, recently
| removed, which was built by and for the &C.
commodation of that part Of Thinking Spring
| Church which was embraced within the
bounds of Waynesboro' and vicinity. After
the erection of this house. in 1924, the
church previously known as Thinking Spring
was known by the name of Thinking Spring
and Waynesboro' Church. This church
was served by one pastor and worshipped at
both places generally every third Sabbath
at Waynesboro'. The first supply of Tink-
ling Spring and Waynesboro' Church was
| the Rev. J. c. Wilson, who died in 1882 He
was succeeded by Rev. B. NJ. Smith. whose
pastorate was closed in 1915 by his removal
to Staunton. About this time, and mainly
through the fundamentally of Mr.. Smith,
the relation between Thinking Spring and
| Waynesboro' church was closed. That part
of Thinking Spring and Waynesboro' church
embraced within the bounds of Waynesboro'
and vicinity was then organized into sep
arate church, to be known as the Waynes-
boro' church. This organization, by the Or
der of Presbytery, took place on the 9th
of May, 1S4G, when the church was consti-
tuted with 40 members who had been dis
missed by certificate from the Thinking
Spring and Waynesboro' church. Three
elders were thus separated from the mother
church, viz Messrs. Charles Patrick. Daniel
Fishburne and VIM. w. King. These three
were elected elders in the new church. At
the same time two Others were elected and
duly ordained, VIZ: Messrs. John Wayt and
James NJ. Brooks. OF these five elders none
now remain. OF the original 40 members
10 are now alive. OF these 10 only 8 are
still connected with the church; the remain
ing 10 having been dismissed to other Pres
byterian churches. The first pastor of the
Waynesboro' church, as separate organi-
zation, was the Rev. W. Il. Richardson,
who began his labors in 1916. Mr.. Rich
ardson's pastorate continued about % years,
and was broken by his removal to Warren
ton church. He was succeeded by Rev.
Sam'l j.. Baird, D. D.. whose connection
with the Waynesboro' church was dissolved
by Presbytery in the spring of 1873. In
November of the same year, the present
pastor, Rev. Frank McCutchen, was elected.
The following is a statement of the present
organization and numerical strength of the
church Pastor. Rev. Frank McCutchen :,
Elders, VIM. Withrow, G. A. Bruce, J. S.
|
Burns; Deacons, j. II. Antrim, Jos. A. Pat
terson, Charles H. Hams and Charles W..
Brooks members, 112.
The old church building being in many
respects an unsuitable one, a meeting of the
congregation was held in February, 1874, to
take into consideration the erection of a
new house OF worship. 1t was then resolved
that as soon as 50, 500 should be subscribed
the work OF the building should be begun.
The whole matter was then entrusted to Il
committee consisting of Messrs. G. 4. Bruce
J, H. Antrim, DR.. st. P. Gibson, J. W. Lam
termned that they would not go into debt.
The money was expended as collected, and
as soon as the funds in hand gave out the
work ceased. This accounts for the length
of time which elapsed before the church was
completed. The majority of the congrega.
ton are in very moderate circumstances
but all gave in proportion to their means
Some who were better able to give contri
buted largely. We heard Mr.. J. Fl. Antrim
: commended for his .liberality, lie having
given nearly $1,000 to the building fund.
The cost of the lot, the church and the fur
niture was s7,20s.2a, every cent of which
has been paid.
, The outer walls of the building are g. Y
80 feet the vestibule 81 x 0, and the audi
/ torium 40 x 81 capable, with the gallery.
5 of seating comfortably $50 persons. II the
basement of the building is a room 40 81
feet used for Sunday School purposes. The
: cupola is 30 feet high. and contains bell
9 which cost $l35. The work was all done
by Waynesboro' mechanics, except the fires
coeing, which was executed by Mr.. Rupp, o
New Market. The brick work of the building
was contracted for by Mr.. N. B. Shepperd
the carpenter-work by Messrs. John Lam
bert and L. J. Clarke, and the painting b.
. Mr.. J. C. Wilton. The pews, which are o.
chestnut, trimmed with walnut, neat ant
comfortable, were manufactured, by T. w
Lambert. The pulpit desk and lamp-stands
Of black Walnut and the communion fable
deliberately and tastefully carved, wer
!, from the furniture factory of Alexander
Son. a very handsome silver communion
set was donated by Mrs. DR.. Henry, of Ala
bama. The church is lighted by heav
chandelier suspended from the middle of tn
ceiling is we'll furnished and nicely carpet
- ed. A very sweet-toned organ, costing 1920
= is used by the choir, while smaller On
does service in the Sunday school.
,. The services on last Sunday were begu
- by the singing of that beautiful anthem
. "Tis good thing to give thanks unto tn
~ Lord" and we think the music would hav
= been pronounced good even by confirme
stGrumblern CAPTAIN ChaS. H. Stebbin