The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-16
Yeocomico Church, Westmoreland County

| Yeocomico
Reproduced from colonial churches
Of Virginia by courtesy OF South
ern Churchman Company, OF
Richmond. Va. pubiishers)
By the Rev. J. Poyntx Tyler.
The section of country In which
this venerable building II situated Is
identified with the very early history
Of Virginia. The county of West
moreland was cut on from Northum-
beriand In 1859, and extended along
the Potomac as high AZ the Falls
above Georgetown. This large terri
tory was subsequently divided. and
In time the country was included in
. narrow strip OF land between the
Raopakannock and Potomac riverE.
There were two parishes in the coun-
"; the upper. Washington. and the
lower. Copie Parish.
Hishop Meade states in his "Oid
Churches and Families of Virginia. .
that there were originally tSo
churches In this latter parish--one
on the Yeocomico creek, from which
| II takes It's name, and the other about
ten miles distant. on Nominy creek.
from which 1t also Is named. The
latter was destroyed by fire soon af.e.'
the late war with England. and has
been replaced by q brick one of more
modern style. The plate belcngir 8
t. this was carried away by ADMIRAL
CocEburn and his party. when they
we're on q ptslaging expedition along
the Potomac.
Concerning the subject of the
sketch. Bishop Meade says: ..Yeoeo-
mieo church liz one of the cid
The architecture 10 rought, but very
strong. and the materials must have
heen of the best kind. Its figure -
that of a Cross, and situated as 1t Is,
/ In u little recess from the main road,
| In the midst OF some aged trees and
surrounded by brick wall. now fast
mouldering away. it cannot fail to
| be an object OF interest to one whose
| soul has any sympathy for sucn
| scenes The old church has suffered,
as have many others. in the stormy
times of tho nations history. Dur
\ ing the last war with Great Britain.
1t was shamefuIly abused by the sol
! dters who were quartered in 1t while
watching the movements of the Brit
ish on the Potomac. The communion
table WAS removed into the yard.
where 1t served as a butchers block.
and was entirely defaced. Being OF
substantial materials. however. 1t ad-
mitted OF new face and polish and
Ia now restored to its former place,
where II will answer, we trust for a
| long time to come. the holy purposes
for which il was originally designed.
Nor was the baptisnial font exempt
from proclamation. II was taken some
miles from the church and used as
. vessel in which to prepare the ex-
elements Of ungodiy mirth. This
however. was not long permitted, for
In the absence OF every member OF
our communion, none being left 70
do II, . venerable man OF the Pres
hyterian connection. mortified at the
dishonor done TO religion. took pains
to REGAIN II and restore to its proper
nchurchs pa cdcu shrdiu eta
/ Bishop Meads also mentions the
fact that the canvas on which this
Ten Commandments. the Lords
Prayer, and Greed were impressed.
was no torn by the soldiers that II
WAS necessary to remove II. and that
some necessary repairs had been put
upon the church by q worthy gentle
man OF New York. II deserves men
stored the font was Mr.. Murphy, Of
Ayrfieid, and the other worthy gen
tleuan was Mr.. w. l. RogerA al
| Princeton, New Jersey, who, a. q
member OF the 36th Regiment OF
United States Infantry. was stationed
with his company In the vicinity Of
the church. in the spring OF 1914,
The baptismal font and communities
table alone remain Of tho original
furniture.
The old brick wall around che
church and burying-ground. which. In
many places was pushed by = the
growing trees from the original foui.-
datton. was partially restored under
the rectorship Of the Rev. A. r. WAL
ker. and neat and substantial iron
gates were hung at tha three en-
The old aun dial. which bears on
Its face the name Of Philip Smith and
/ the date HIT, has been removed
| from its post before the church and
II now kept In the rectory. Its face
has been but little married by OK
| posture to the elements. and 1t will
At the foot Of the hill ii q limpiu
spring. where thirsty worshippcrs
have been wont to refresh them.
selves by aid OF an iron latlc placed
there mary years ago by kind
hearted IAcsly Cox, whose Initials
are impressed on the bowl.
In recent history Of the church.
published by the committee having
the htcsntenniai exsrcises N charge,
and from which much Of this article
II prepared. II the following state
ment:
This quaint relic Of Colonial vir-
gtnia has stood through two ceit,
turtles Of changing scenes, and haa
experienced Z variety Of usageA little
| contemplated hy those whose ptous
hands laid It's foundations For thres