The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-19
WESTMORELAND
Rebuilding the Walls Around a Historic
Church.

Correspondence or Inc FREE Lance }
Hague, Va, July rs
The vestry of Oople parish, West
morelAnd county. are making arrang-
ments 60 rebuild the brick wall around
old YeocomiCo church. Most Of the
materials have been gotten IN place and
the work will soon begin. IL IL mainly
through the efforts Of the present rector.
! Rev A. h Walker, that this has been
made possible. lie has taken great in
terest in the old church, and has been
untiring in his efforts TO raise money
for the purpose Of restoring the wall and
making some needed repairs 10 the
building. This work should interest
not only those Immediately connected
with this church, but all who take an
interest Ia their oountry's past This
old ohurch is a monument to Colonial
Virginia. II is quaint specimen Of
the architecture Of that period. lt was
builtin l70G Of bricks. they say. brought
from England, and was once surrounded
by d magnifcient grove Of oaks, hick0-
ries and cedars. and enclosed by q high
brick wall Here worshipped many
whose names are conspicuous In the
history Of Virginia and the UniOn-the
Lees, the Washingtons. the Carriers. the
Newtons. and many others prominent
in the affairs Of that day. Here the
Father of his Country attended service
when his mother came TO visit Mig
Lee, Of Lee Hall. " with whom she
was very intimate.
There is tradition that IL was here,
and not at POpe's Greek church, that he
was baptized
II l recall this tradition Alright, IL is
10 the effect that on the occasion Of one
Of these visits the mother Of Washing
ton, observing some little Lees being pre-
pared for baptism. would not be outdone.
and forthwith prepared young George for
the rite. And thus it was he was baptized
along with the little Lees in the old mar
BILE font ia the,eastern wing Of old Yeo.
comico church. and grew up in the
same faith with them
This was told me by descendant Of
the Lees, who cited in support Of its
probability the case Of young nephew
Of hers who was baptized under similar
circumstances many miles from where
he first saw the light
Some Of our learned historians will
be disposed TO reject this as improbable
while willing TO accept. without quail
fcation. the fairy tale Of the Ratchet
and the cherry tree.
l shall not be dragged into a discus
sion, either pro or con. l submit thai
Ii is quite possible and very probable.
Much Of our best history is founded on
tradition, and | am content TO tell IL as
it is told to me, without comment
We're it not for the lamentable fact
that the parish register Of that period
has been destroyed, there would be no
| question about it.
When the revolutionary spirit was
abroad in the land this old church did
not escape its Influence. On one coca.
sion, we are told by good authority, the
| people were stirred TO take arms against
the Mother Oouutry by one who, long
years afterwards. won from VIM Writ
that glowing tribute TO the blind
preacher.
For some years after the Revolution,
deprived Of the support derived from
the glebe lands, neglected and aban-
doned, it became the roOsting place Of
birds and the habitation Of beasts Al
one time il was used as school
house, and during the war Of 1912 a
company of militiamen were quartered
in il. Later 1t became the battle ground
Of contendinR religious denominations =,
and during the civil war 1t was again
used to quarter heroes Of the Home
Guard - II is now used as a place Of
worship by the parish.
The church is in fair state Of pres
ervation, and has undergone repairs
from time TO time.
The wall is in sad state Of dilspida.
tion, and has entirely crumbled away
10 many places
The stately oaks have gradually sue
cumbed to the ravages Of time-only
one remains-but q beautiful young
grove is coming on to take their place
This decay should be arrested, and the
old church with its surroundings pre-
served, that coming generations may
see the style in which their forefathers
builded their temples TO the living God
There is an air of inexpressible peace
fulness and quiet sanctity about these
time.stricken buildings that we do not
find about the tinsel Of modern religious
structures They speak to us Of an era,
that has passed.
We are told by Bishop Meade that
the present record does not go back
further than 1854
The minister at that time was Rev.
Chas Rose brother Of Rev. Robt Rose,
of Essex He was followed by Rev.
Thos. Smith, Rev. Augustine Smith,
Rev. Jas. Elicit. Rev. Washington Mel
son, Rev Mr.. Word, Rev. Mr.. Rem.
mey. Rev Edward McRine. Rev. VIM
Mcclure, Rev. Mr. Dashield, Rev. Mr..
Rodifer, Rev Mr.. Lloyd, Rev. Mr..
Brooke, Rev, r. A Oastlemsn, Rev.
A. B. Ohinn. and the present rector,
Rev. A r. Walker.
We find among the vestrymen Of the
Colonial period names familiar in this
generation. In 1865, Willoughby New.
ton, Robt Middleton, Fleet Cox, Robt
Garter. Sam'l Oldham, Rich. Lee.
Later Geo Garner, Jno Orabb, Jeri-
miah Bailey. Vincent Msrmaduke,
Patrick Sanford.
The numerous descendants Of those
connected with this church, it seems.
ought to be interested in its preserva.
tion. M.