Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-03
BERKLEY.
Sketch Of Chestnut Street M. E.
Church, South.
Founded In 1870. by Methodist Families
Removing from Norfolk List of Minis
tiers The Original Members other In
terepting Particulars.

The history of this church Is very in
teresting, and IS but another proof of
the active. progressive spirit of the
people called Methodists.
In the year 1870 several Methodist
families living in Norfolk moved to the
little village across the river, then
called Ferry Point. There was. at that
time. no steam ferry communication
With Norfolk and Portsmouth, footboats
being used at irregular intervals. There
was no church in the place except the
Christian Church, Rev. Stephen Bar
rett, pastor. Soon, on account of the
distance from and the great inconcve-
nience In reaching the churches of
which they were members, these few
Methodists determined to form n So
clety and make arrangements for regu-
lar church services. A room was Sc
cured in the old Courthouse, fitted UP
for religious services and called the
Chapel, and here they met for divine
worship with some one of the Methodist
ministers of Norfolk and Portsmouth
preaching on Sunday afternoon, and
the society holding class and prayer
meetings during the week nights. This
continued until November S, 1870, when
Rev. A. G. Brown. presiding elder of
the Norfolk district, met the society in
the Chapel and formally organized the
church in the enrolment of the follow
Ing names: BY certificate from Cum
berland Street Church. Norfolk-H. b.
c. Walker, Mary L. Walker. II. V.
Moore, Julia S. Moore, C. S. Rogers,
Mary e. Rogers, Julia Digs, Fanny
Winingder, Emma Dougherty, Frances
Hewitt, Susan j. Payne. Elizabeth
Branigan. Rebecca Jackson, Eliza
Thomas and Rebecca zilis-By- certifi-
cate from CRANKY Street Church, Nor
folk-Ellza Berkeley Susan E. Peters,
and Mary E. Daily. BY certificate
from South Norfolk circuit-Enos Cuth-
erell. Twenty-three in all.
The following was the first official
roll: II. c. Cheatham, preacher in
charge; H. B. c. Walker, NJ. C. Keeling.
II. V. Moore. c. S. Rogers. Enos Cuth-
erell stewards. Rev. H. C. Cheatham,
who had been assigned to the charge
by the Conference of November, 1870,
called his membership together, and
discussed plans. ways and means. and
Immediately commenced active and
vigorous work to build church. l..
Berkeley. Esq. donated the lot and five
hundred dollars in cash, and with this
as nucleus, the work was carried on
with such energy and zeal that on the
third Sunday in June, 1871. at II o'clock
a. M. an attractive and commodious
brick church was dedicated to the ser
vice OF Almighty God. by the Rev.
Charles II. Hall. of the Virginia An
nual Conference. under the name of
Chestnut Street NJ. E. Church, Berkeley,
Va, since which time the church has
steadily grown in numbers and useful
ness.
About four years ago the official
board of Chestnut Street NJ. Z. Church
seeing the great Importance of supply
Ing the needs OF our rapidly-growing
section (South Norfolk with church
advantage in its own borders, and being
imbued with the spirit OF progressive
Methodism. met to discuss and devise
ways to build a church in that location
A committee was appointed to carry
out the wish of the board.
A. H. Martin, member of the board
of stewards. donated a fine. eligible lot
of ample dimensions for the building
plan of much beauty and taste was
selected, and a sufficient sum was soon
collected and subscribed to begin the
work. The Laymen's Union of Norfolk
district generously gave $500 to the en-
terprise. and the church extension
Board of the Virginia Conference gave
42Ql--E--M NJ Tilley. With several outside
friends, gave liberal amounts, so that
in May, 1898. this beautiful church was
dedicated to the service of Almighty
God. by the Rev. A. Coke Smith, D.
D.. of the Virginia Conference
The church cost $4,000. The entire
cost has been paid, and to-day stands
as a monument to the energy, zeal and
missionary spirit OF Chestnut Street NJ.
f. Church. The South Norfolk Church
is known in the Virginia Conference as
the Liberty Street NJ. e. Church. Berk-
ley, Va.
From its insignificant beginning. with
twenty-three members, Chestnut Street
has continued to grow in numbers and
November, 1895. its twenty-fifth ami
versary) with her rapidly-growing
branch Iiberty Street Church) num-
bers about six hundred members. Such
development is most gratifying to our
beloved Methodsm. To God be all the
glory
The following ministers have served
the charge: Rev. H. G. Cheatham
served the church one year(November
1S70-1STD with great energy and zeal.
and during his pastorate the church
was built, dedicated and the member
ship doubled. Rev. William MCGEE
served the charge three years from No
vember. 1871 to November, 1874. During
his pastorate, the church was visited
with gracious outpourings of the Spirit
and the membership greatly encourag-
ed and strengthened. He was very dear
to the hearts Of his people. Rev. w.
F. Robbins served the church three
years, from November 1874. to Novem-
Der. 1877. and during his passionate the
membership increased nearly one hun
dred. Rev. T. Men. Simpson came TO
the charge as his first regular appoint
ment. and by his discreet and pious
life. proved himself as one sent of the
Lord. He served the charge four years
from November. 1877. to November.
1881. The church, which previous to
his appointment to 1t. had been serious
ly divided, was thoroughly united. and