The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-08
THE JAMESTOWN CHURCH

/ (The pictures which are herewith
given are taken from the handsome,
illustrated volume issued by the
Southern. Churchman Co. entitled
/ Colonial Churches in the Original
! Colony of Virginia" BY the courtesy
Of the publishers we are also per-
mitted to give brief compendium
of facts taken from the more ex-
tended historical sketch found in the
same volume. Our readers who are
Interested in a, fuller account can
secure the volume by sending $l.25
to the Southern Churchman Co,
Richmond. Va, adding 10 cents for
postage, If they wish the volume sent
toy maiI.)
ON Sunday morning early, the 26th
Of April 1907, the three ships sent
out by the London Co. entered the
/ Chesapeake Bay and landed on the
/ Southern shore.
( Our first sight Of Virginia, through
/ the eyes of these storm tossed and
! cabin bound colonists, Is like a dream
of fairyland. II was oar most charm
+ ing season--the early days OF May.
They wandered on the shore II what
is now Princess Anne county, and
found, as young Percy, Of Northum-
berland. records, "faire meddowes ana
goodly tall trees, with such fresh wa
/ ters running through the woods as
was almost rayished at the sight
thereof"
( To this same point they returned
three days later, on Wednesday, April
20. the day after they had found the
channel at Old Point and knew that
they could enter the river. Then, AZ
ter the re@ered fashion OF old Chris
tan explorers and discoveries. they
set UP & cross at the spot OF their
first landing. and called that place
Cape Henry
After two weeks Of exploration and
examination. of which an interest
ing account IS given by George Percy.
they finally determined upon an island
! adjacent to the north bank of the
river and forty miles from it's mouth.
This was selected as their seating
place" and for three very good rea-
sons: Ii was sufficiently removed from
the sea and SO less liable 10 attack
from outside enemies: ii was an is
: land land large enough for their pur-
pose, being two and three-quarter
miles long,, and so afforded better
protection from the natives; and there
was a channel OF six fathoms of wa
! ter near enough to the shore for their
ships TO he moored To the trees. thus
affording additional protection and an
easy landing.
/ To this place they came on May to,
and the next day, Thursday. 14th, ali
hands were brought ashore a1d set to
clearing ground for their @-4tt Il a44a eat
and making ready timber for their
stockade fort This stockade was tri-
angular having bulwarks at each
corner like a haf-moon. and four or
five pieces of artillery mounted In
them. The side next the river was
420 feet long and the two other sides
each 500 feet long. A road ran all
around on the inside next the stick
ade, and next to the road and facing
inwards were the cabins occupied by
the colonists. In the open space in
the middle of the triangle stood the
I guard-house. tho store house, and
when 1t was built. which was within
few weeks, the church. The settle
ment was at the upper or western
end Of the island,
Z Now" to quote Captain Smith,
because i have spoke SO much of
/ the body. give me leave 10 say some-
what of the soule; and the rather
! because l have been demanded by
SO many how we began to preach the
/ Gospel in Virginia, and by what au-
thority; what churches we had, our
/ order Of service, and maintenance of
! our ministers; therefore, l think 1t
not amisse to statistic their demands,
/ ii being the mother of all our Plan
tations. intreating pride to spare
! laughter TO understand her simple
/ beginnings and proceedings.
When we first went to Virginia
/ we'll remetnber We did hang an
! awning (which is an old sailel to
/ three or four trees, to shadow us
! from the sunne; our wales were rales
of wood; our seats unhewed trees till
we cut plankas.- our Pulpit a bar
OF wood nailed to two neighbourlng
trees In foule weather we shifted
/ into an old rotten tent; for we had
few better. and this came by way
OF adventure for new.
This was our church till we built
homely thing like a barne. set
upon cratchets, covered with RATS,
sedge and earth; so was the walls.
The best of our houses (were) of
like curiosity; but the most part far
much worse workmanship that nei-
Their could we'll defend (from) wind
nor raine. Yet we had daily Com
mon Prayer. morning and evening:
every Sunday two sermons; and ev-
cry three months the Holy Commun-
ion, till our minister died. but our
prayers daily with an Homily on Sup
daies we continued two or three years
after till our preachers came"-that
is. the next preacher to come. after
! the death of Mr.. Hunt"
Here is a true picture of the be-
/ ginning OF Church life In America.
The pioneers. working in the summer.
! heat. building fort. clearing ground,