Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-08-05
History of Bethel Church.
Near GreenviIIe, Augusta County
VirQinia.

ITATOR i'm January 1882. Some add
tional facts which have jnst beel
handed us, will make it still more in
teresting
The Old North Mountain Church wa
situated about eight miles northwes
of Staunton on the BrOwnsburg road
| 1t was organized about the year l747
by Rev John Blaine. The graveyard
stands on the north side of the road
marked by Locust grove. 1t was en-
closed by a Sampson fence, locus
stakes, and chestnut rails, in the veal
ISL William Moffett superintendlne
the work and collecting funds to pay
for it The ThompsOns. MGffetts, Will
sons, Mltchells, and many Others were
buried there. find no account but OF
lone man preaching at the church. Rev.
Mr.. Cummings preached there, and at
Browns Church. (nOw HebrOn) about
the year 1776 or II. Hebron was or
ganized by Rev. John Blaine. There
was desire on the part of those on
Christians g creek, South River. Green
vile, and above that, by the head of
the South River, and over to the head
of Middle River, near Shemariah. to
move the church from the North Noun
tain, and build new church at Bethel
the old church being done, and too
close to Browns. At that time, those
living on Christian s creek and South
river to near Greenville. all had left the
old North Mountain, and attended
Thinking Spring. Either the church
was done or there was no preaching.
AS far as am informed the Elders at
the Old North Mountain church were
| VIM. Thomson, J Ohm w ilsOn and James
Mitchell The seasonal records of
that, and Bethel, were burnt in the of
flee of John b. Christian on his faith
er's farm. There is no communion roll,
or record up to the year 1917. when DR..
Robert III. Chapman, the pastor, got up
n roll and book of record. The moving
of the church was strongly opposed by
some of the people of North Mountain
and Browns church, they wishing to
consolidate at the North Mountain.
The contest became sharp. Those in
favor of Bethel desiring to have two
churches instead of one. Col. Robert
Doak said he would settle the matter
where the church was to be built. He
went to work, and got all those In ia
vor of Bethel, some to cutting, some
to hewing, and others to hauling, and
got the logs to the site selected. The
church was three lengths of logs.
think about 60 by 80 feet after the old
style with pulpit in the side, Clerk Is
box in front, whele the Clerk sang and
parcelled out the lines. the church
was poorly seated; most persons made
their own pews; some pretty good, and
many of them with a round pole for
the back, l think the church was built
about the year 1777. 1t was taken
down in 1921, and the present church
put up in '21 and '22. Sam1 Finley,
Robert DOak, Sam Blackwood. James
Moffett and VIM. Wilson. building
committee, John Joseph, contractor.
Size of building AS by 5S feet. Built
of brick and cost something over 81 900.
Rev. Archibald Scott was the first
preacher at Bethel. He preached there
and at Browns church. He was born
in Ireland, educated in Pennsylvania.
and commenced preaching at Bethel
and Browns church about the year
l777 or rs. He died March 4th, 1899,
or, as some say he resigned in March,
and died in December. DIR. John
Glendy began to preach at Bethel Oc-
tober, 1899. DIR. Glendy was received
into Lexington Presbytery November
10Th. 1900. The union between BrOwn's s
Meeting House, and Bethel was dis
solved May 9th, 1901. and DIR. Glendy
went to Baltimore. Rev. John Mines
was ordained May 11th, 1904. and or
dered to preach at Bethel for one year.
At the close of his year was dismissed
to Winchester Presbytery.
Rev. VIM. McPheebers began to
preach at Bethel as a licentiate No
vemDe 4th, 1905. III accepted call
from the church April 18th, 1906, and
was ordained and installed April 21st,
sermon by DR.. Baxter. Rev. Samuel
brown presided and gave the charge.
The pastoral relation between Rev.
VIM. McPheeters and Bethel was dis.
solved April 23rd, 1910. Rev. Samuel
Men utt supplied the pulpit about six
months Rev. Josiah Henderson was
received from the Presbytery of Baltl
more October 18th. 1910. Began to
preach at Bethel for one year. October
10th. 1911, he was appointed stated sup
ply until the next meeting of Presby-
terry. April 25th. 1872, he was continu-
ed.
October 31st, 1912, John Humphreys
md others complained to PresbYtery
of "a disaffection towards Mr.. Hender-
son. The Presbytery recommended
tnem, il possible, to become reconciled.
May lst 1913, Mr. Henderson agreed to
withdraw at the end of his year. May
l4ih, lSl4 charges were exhibited
against Mr.. Henderson. He was charg-
ed with being intoxicated, and other
improper conduct. July 22nd, 1914,
Mr.. Henderson resigned his ministry
| into the hands of the Presbytery. He
was suspended. December 9th, 1915.
Rev. Robert Anderson was received by
Lexington Presbytery. He preached
at Bethel about q year, and received q
call to Kentucky. All we're highly
pleased with him
November 10Th, 1917, Rev. Robert H.
Chapman, d D., was received by Lex
ington Presbytery from Orange Pres
IDytery. No record of the time be COM
menced preaching at Bethel; but am
of opinion he commenced some timr
liL 1916.
| DIR. Chapman resigned his pastoral
Icharge April 2Sth, 1921. The old church
being thrown, and no place for the
congregation to worship, the old pews
was removed east of the church h-there
the cOngi egation met, the elders get
ting such supplies as they could. Rev.
James G. Wilson, of Thinking Spring,
and Rev. James Morrison, of New Pro
Evidence, preaching oftener than any
other ministers. They had several
communions in the grove. There were
no regular record of these meetings of
those who were received into the
Ichurch. l find no record in the session
hook from April 2Stb, l821-which
meeting was moderated by Or. Chap
man on the same day he resigned his
, charge-until September 18th, 1928
when the first meeting of the session
was moderated by Rev. Francis Nc
Farland. The first sermon preached
lin the new church was by the Rev DR.
Foot, of Romney, when quite younf
man. The house WAS not finished, Onl'
closed in and the floors laid. A Worl
!bench was placed where the pulp
lnow stands for pulpit. The old pew
were carried in, also plank for seats
Tine church was filled, Rev. Mr. Doal
suppled some Of the vacancies for
flew months. He went to Tennessee
lin 1922 the church was finished, all
1.-THE pews sold out. The session wa
e.. ,suf,, 4