The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02
BY EDITH DAnNEY TUN1s.

BY EDITH DABNEY TUNIS.
S LONG as there is an Old
~ Dominion, or as long as there
exists one man or woman to
Il boast him or herself true
virginian, the old Virginia
churches will live among the most rev.
cred and hallowed memories Of a
glorious comn1o nwealth.
Beginning with the old tower 1T
Jamestown, there remain to-day more
than score Of these sacred edlnces
built by the early settlers who planted
the first shoot of English civilization
in Virginia SOIL
Jamestown.
The jamestown Church, dedicated
May 9, 1907, was erected by the So
ciety of Colonial Danes as memorial
and protection to the ruins Of the
| churches of 1899 and 1912 the pre-
| served foundations of which arc visible
| behind the iron ratings on the in
| terror, of the new church. Mr.. Ed
| ward Wheelrfght. of Boston, the arr
! chitect, faithfully followed as we'll as
possible, and as far as information.
| from study of the original founda-,
| tons could be had, the lines and plans
of the churches of 1917, 1888 and
/ 1912 The old chancel has been left
| untouched, the tower Is supposed 20
be the remains Of the church destroyed
! during Bacon's Rebellion or what is
perhaps more likely. those Of one
built Just after that event. Some Of
4 the sacred vessels Of the first James
j town Church are still to be seen. The
4 silver chelice, paten and aims basin
4 inscribed: For the Use OF James City
4 Parish Church. " are IN. charge OF the
i vestry at Williamsburg, but should
4 James City Parish ever revive, must
be returned to 1t. A silver plate, part
a of the communion service presented by
Governor Edmond Andres in 1884, still
i$exists, belonging also to the church
Eof Virginia. Other pieces of old church
furniture now In use are silver vase
and baptisnal font, presented by the
4 Jaquelins in 1893 which, when an act
of Assembly ordered the sale of church
\ property in. 17s5, passed by right o.
Iprivate donation to Mr.. John Amber
a descendant of Edward Jaquelin
/ Thanks to the Society for the Presery1.
ton of Virginia Antiquities, the grave
yard is no longer in a state of chaoti,
ruin, and the sycamore and 1nulberr!
+ trees towering around and above l
afford dense shade for the quiet sleep
: ers in this historic spot
st. LuI<e's, Smithfteld.
Contemporary with the second ehurcl
at Jamestown, though built a bi
earlier, in 1889, ST. Luke's, in Smith
field, lives to-day the oldest church i
America. The workmanship of thi
church is truly remarkable, the ma
terial, Of course, having been brough
from abroad, the present conditio
proving all to have been OF the bes
The extraordinarily thick walls an
high tower. remind one somewhat Q
an English castle and promise to las
vet for many years to come. AS wit
most Of the old churches. st. Luke
is in the picturesque setting of
grove of trees. In 1887 the roof wa
reshingled. since when the Brio
s Church." as 1T was known in earl
days, has had but few repairs, an
lives to-day as 1t did three centuric
ago.
st. Johns, Hampton.
Having felt the fires and strife
three wars, ST. Johns Church, Ham,
ton, knows now the peaceful existent
of a quiet town. Built somewhere b.
tween 1860 and 1867, when Hamptc
Parish was called by the Indian nan
Kichotan, st, Johns was used as
barracks in the War of 1912. and fro
then to 1924 went rapidly, to deca
All the church furniture was los
the doors, windows and floors h,
gone, leaving nothing but bare wal
and leaky roof while the gray
yard was lost in a tangle of shru
berry. In 1924. however, the ohur
was repaired, and on January s, 1s;
was consecrated by Bishop Moore, sin
when It. has been one Of the mo
y prosperous and interesting churches
the country.
KS jNyestover.
On that portion Of the Weston
plantation known as Evelynton st
si stands Westover Church.. buAt by Co
& onel Byrd in 1890, in accordance wi
the law passed by Governor Yeardl
lin 1921, recurring house Of worsh
land burying ground tolsbe built on
plantations. The church was moved
It's present site in 1871, at the orc
OF the wife of the third William BY
4 for the convenience of the parishione
Federal cavalry troops used the sacl
building as stable curing the U
War, causing cruel damage to the
So terror Since that time repairs he
been made, and the altar ut which
Byrds and other owners OF the I
estate worshiped Is honored and ~
e erenced by those who come from NO
and South, frons this country 9
abroad.
Ware Church.
# In historic Gloucester county, fan
as the true abiding place of Powh at
is old Ware Church, built suppose
in 1898, though which, In the meant
has heen more than once repair
When the new chancel floor was put
in 1854, many tombstones show
ny quaint and curious epltaphs We're 9
cred, The graveyard, in!tlie midst
which the church Ia placed, Is
clnsad nv the customary wall OF y
kllAh annearance. fairly we'll pTossr'