The evening times., 1900-07-09
A CONFEDERATE CHAPEL.
Ancient Virginia Church 90 Become
Memorial Structure.

4
PETERSBURG. Va. July SOD Bland
ford Church is TO Be converted into Con
federate memorial chapel. There are in
the Old church eleven large windows,
which viii be set aside for the eleven Con-
federate States TO be used as memorial
windows. each State furnishing its own
window In addition there are three small
windows which viii be assigned for the
( same purpose TO Maryland Kentucky. and
Missouri. Petersburg will have a separate
memorial Of the 9th Of June battle. proba-
oly In the form OF a pulpit or rostrum.
To complete the chapel and provide for
us presentation and Use Il viii be heces-
saTy 10 have doors and = floor probably Of
concrete To supply these the laeiies OF the
Memorial Association have decided TO in
vtte contributions from the children OF Pc
tersburg and Of the State at large.
The following interesting history OF Old
Blandford Church was written BY the late
Charles Campbell in 1865:
Bristol parish. in which the Old Bland
ford Church stands, was first established
in 1872. In lT33 an acre OF land on Wells
Hill was purchased from John Low as the
site Of a brick church Capt Thomas Raw
enscToft was employed 10 build Il. Part Of
the building was erected at this tine: the
ether part subsequently. Major Robert
Boiling. William Poythress. and william
Starke were depuuZsd 20 supsrinrend the
building OF the church August T. IT27
the following persons were present at the
FIRST meeting Of the vestry 70 the Brick
Church, as = was called: Col Robert
9oaiss- Cast Robert Aunfo-d Capt VII
iian SJarke. Capt. Daniel Walker. Capt
John Bacutste-. Major William PCythress.
and Capt. Frs1k PoyIhress-
Rev. George Robertson. Incumbent for
Bristol parish for tGcuty ycafs, died II
tiS7. TIE vacancy 20 the parish was .o- a
time supplied BY the Rev. John Smith. y no
al that time resided al Varina. OF 1 e
James River. ana Vas engLged in conpo -
ing the history OF Virginia. In IT4s tie
town Of Petersburg was established on the
lands OF Abraham Jones' June = 1752
the vestry met a. the Old Brick C1u-l
and contracted with Col. Richard BIsrd to
build tns additional portion o. the buEd-
ing which was % be completed b. July ],
1875. The old inner vail. including the
church, was erected a. this time James
Murray. Abraham Boiling. aad ThcOdericlS
Bland were allowed 20 build a gallery N
the recently adCSd portion Ct the church u
their own expense fC- the use o. them
selves. heire. and successors.
The Old Rle1dsOrd Csurch kes gore
much 10 decay. ths walls OF imported Eng
lish brick a-e Standing. the 1901 il part
gone--mOss ard ivy covering the ravages
OF time OF the two pillars which support
d beam near the mi&dle aisle ore resting
or ia splirte-ed end q gr2EuaIly yielding
20 the weight above There j. no V-s- ga
Of pulpit or desk TIE tablets Co--afrirg
the decslCgUe have been renOred- Cze
door survives half sustained By a brOk- n
hinge The bu=isI ground OF this Cd
church Is the Petersburg Ceme-ery- The
British general. Philips. who died in Pc
.ers5urg IN 1-SL lies buried near the
southeast corner q the church John Rzn-
eolPh. Of Roanoke. n his boybco5. &C or
panied his mother 20 TITS church Brfst
parish was established rs yesrs ego ard
tie Old BlaeciCrd Church is about I30
years old"