Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-02
THE OLDEST CHURCH.
IL Was Built 100 Years Before washing
ton Was Born.
To be continued

ton Was Born.
About 200 miles south Of the city OF
Washington, and n few miles south OF tho
mouth Of the James river, in thoRnciCnt
county of Isle of Wight, inthc state of
Virginia, stands the Oldest huildingorcot-
cd on this continent by English-spcak-
ing people, says the Washington Star 1t
is n church built entirely of brick and
called "St. Lulle's' and "Old Smith
field Church. while lis historic namo
is Tho Brick Church.
For 200 years the house Of worship
from time to time OF the six genera
tions that sleep around ii undor tho
fine grove OF oaks, sycamores walnutS
and ccdnrs, it resounds with no voice
of praise or prayer it having been
abandoned in the year 1886 ~ II
church, on account OF most of the
members having died or moved from
the parish.
This venerable church was built In
the year 1852, 100 years before Wash
ington was born, and only twelve years
after tho landing Of the pilgrims ut
Plymouth Rock. Tho antiquity Of the
church is proven by two deoply-marIS-
ed date bricks that came down with the
east wall in the year 1887, when the
original top fell in
The church was erected under tho
Buperintondency OF CAPTAIN Joseph
Bridges, n oman OF affairs in the shire
OF Isle Of Wight at that time, and lin
ished after that sub, tantial fashion in
/ tended to last for ages, so that to-day
the MASSIVE wallsara as strong as when
/ first put up.
Tho church having been abandoned
as a house of worship in 1886, in tho
year 1885 the Rev. David Barr, then
rector Of the church ut Smithville, Va,
undertook the work of having the old
church put in perfect and complete
order. Since then he has devoted
much time TO his labor OF love and with
great success. At this time there 10
lacking only about 81, 600 TO finish tho
work.
In the restoration OF twelve OF tho
small windows composing the east
window, the nave windows end vestry-
room windows are TO be memorials.
In the east window will be one each TO
washington CHE only memorial win
dow to him in the United States); Lee
Bridges, the builder Of the church;
the Rev. Mr.. Hubbard. the colonial
parson OF the church Cup TO 1902, when
he died) Bishops Madison, Moore,
Meade and Johns Virginia's four do
ceased chief pastors; Sir Walter
Raleigh, Captain John Smith, John
Rolfe. husband OF Pocanontas. and the
Rev. DR.. Blair, founder Of William and
Mary College.
/ The southeast corner window In the
nave will be memorial OF Pocabontas.
provided principally by her descend
ants, and the two opposite ones are
memorials Of Parsons Hunt and Whit
Captain John Smith In the Virginia
colony Whitaker baptised Pocahon-
tas and married her TO Rolfe.
The first roof was put on the church
In 1868, the second in l777, the third
about 1921, and the present one in
1887.
The contributions for the work,
more than 400 in number, have come
In sums from one cent (the first by q
little Virginia girl) up TO 5000, by a
! Californian, and have been made by
rich and poor, the eminent and tho
lowly, white and colored, Episcopa-
lians, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians,
Methodists. Baptists, and Unitarians.
At an early day 1t is expected that the
work will be completed and the ''Old
Brick Church" again open for the SER
vice OF God, as In the days past