The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-04-03


AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA.
Written for the Presbyterian Historical So
ciety.]
Union church was organized in the year
1917. The situation fixed upon for it's house
of worship was a portion of ground given for
the purpose by James Cochran, Esq, a
gentleman who owned large tract of land
in that vicinity some of his great grand
children still own and occupy part of his
estate, which lies in sight of the church.
The church lot consists of about three
acres. The ediice stands on hill sur
rounded on three sides by grove of oaks
on the other, is the sections house, and
the graveyard in which sleeps the dust of
the first pastor and others, who await the
resurrection of the just.
The location was we'll selected, both for
the territory to be occupied, as also its
relative position to other Presbyterian
churches, viz : Hebron on the south ;Staun-
ton, southeast !; Augusta church, east and
Messy Creek on the north each of these
being about ten miles distant. Five miles
to the west of this position, the Allegheny
range of mountains shuts in the Valley.
Other denominations had, at that time,
no church building within this space, ex-
cept at ChurcEville, a village three and a
half miles off. Here were two churches,
-one owned by the Methodists, the other
jointly owned by the German Reformed
and Eutherans. The proportion of profess
ing christians in all this region seems to
have been small compared to the careless,
thoughtleSs, Sabbath breaking population.
PreSbyterians, it appears, had occasional
preaching by their own denomination in
the German Reformed and Lutheran
churches, for which they had a stipulated
right, though their church membership
was in connection with one or other of the
above mentioned Presbyterian churches.
To attend their own places of worship
they were compelled to ride ten, twelve or
fifteen miles.
with other reasons, led them to unite in
resolve to form an organization and build
house of worship in their midst. This
conclusion was made at the time Messy
Greek had chosen for their pastor the Rev.
John Hendren, a young clergyman at that
time engaged as pastor as well as classical
teacher in Amherst county, Va. These
scattered members, SO uniting, probably
suggested the name sUnion.n
They proceeded with the necessary steps
for organizing and securing the services of
Mr.. Hendren for one-half of his time.
Accordingly, the Rev. Conrad Specie,
DeluS utpubcu Wy ITeSDyttIy, ulot tllo
people assembled on the spot on the day
appointed here he preached to them as
| they were gathered around log fire the
ground was covered with snow, it being
| the 18th February. This standing place
was the stump of lately fallen tree. We
give an extract from letter relating to
| that occasion, written by DR.. Specie to Mr..
Hendren
ssLast Saturday Ia bitter, cold day. l
preached at Union. We then made out a
| list Of the church members of this new So
ciety The number was forty-four, but
probably some names remain to be added,
as the meeting was notvery full on account
of the extreme GOODNESS of the weather
Four persons were then elected for elders
and solemnly set apart to that office. They
are Messrs. David Hogshead. Francis Gill
keson, Thomas Hogshead. and John Gar
ven. The last | know to be q man of great
worth with the others am unacqnaintpd.
They are said to be very respectable men.
We had talk about the right of the pull
pit at Union. The conversation war
rants me to believe the door Of the pulpit
is to be always in the hands of the session.
The church is to be Presbyterian church,