Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-04
Old BLANDFORD CHURCH, PETERSBURG, "A

paintei. and the addition TO 1t once
primed and thrice painted.
In November, 1854, Colonel William
Poythress had leave granted TO enclose
n piece of ground as a burying" place Tor
his family within the walls OF the church
ward: provided that he enlarge the
same. so that the yard should include
iht same superficial measure exclusive OF
said piece OF ground as the present
church-yard TO be walled is to include.
17e0.-Notice was given to Colonel Bland
that If he did not proceed TO finish the
work upon the addition and enclosure the
contract would be given to another per-
son.
In ITO this minute is found-viz: 1t
appears to the veStry that the acre OF
land purchased by the parish of John
Low. i'm 1885. is not entirely included with
in the wall of the churchyard, and 1t
being necessary that the boundaries there
of should be ascertained, it is ordered that
the church wardens do lay off the sur
plus of said acre, from the west side
| of the wall square with the same. giving
Lewis Parham, present proprietor or the
adjoining land. notice of the time when
| said line is TO be run; and the quantity
OF land included in Colonel Poythress'
burying-place is to be laid off over ana
above the said acre, according to the
agreement of said vestry with said Poy-
thress in 175i."
| In l, / Peter Parsons was paid for rail-
/ ing in the oak and the benches around
| the church. Lewis Parham having assert
| ed a claim TO the acre of land on which
| the brick church on Wells Hill Is situ-
| ated. and demanding $500 for 1t, the
| vestry rejected the claim he having in
| their. opinion. no right 20 1t, -
| In 1913 Colonel Theodrick Bland obtain
| ed leave to build side windows in the
| brick church adjoining his family pew.
In f7S5 the church wardens were ordered
! "to let the making of proper gates to the
church wall and 10 have them properly
fitted and the church repaired, and that
| the Rev. Mr.. Cameron employ "a sexton
} who shall have six shillings for each
crave opened. and shall receive three
! shillings for each privilege. After the
repairs of the church shall be made. the
church wardens are directed to number
the pews and let them to the highest
bidder reserving two pews FOR the
| students and -four pews for the poor .
In 1880 the church wardens were ordered
70 gef a deed for the church from Charles
Duncan. and have ii recorded.
| I'm 1901 additional land was bought for
a burving-g ground, and G46 Appropriated
Tor enclosing the same, and IL was ordered
| mar no grave be opened thereafter. with
| I'm the old walls. except for persons. a part
| of whose family is already buried there.
| In 1916 the south gate OF the old brick
| church was repaired.
THE OLD CHURCH DESERTED.
Many of the foregoing items will be
found scattered through the body of this
hook, but the author has thought II well
10 collect and group them here to save
the curious reader the trouble of doing il
| for himself The vestry, In the latter part
| OF the last century, met by turns,
! AT the glebe-house (stll standing oppo-
| site the western entrance OF the church
| yard) and at Byrd's and Armistead's. In
the town of Blandford. and at Brewers
| i'm Petersburg. until pastor and people
| migrated to the latter city. In which
| services had been held alternately with
the brick and the outward church And
finally. the old church was left alone IN
| her glory.
There is q sense In which II may be
said that the glory OF the latter day ex-
| ceeds The glory OF the former Although
the fire upon her altar has gone out, yet
not before II had kindled fires upon other
affairs, which are now burning brightly
| upon the neighboring liill.i and among
| other radiations. rejecting light upon
| Biandford, in the form ,of a mission
chapel, In which the Gospel Is preached