The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-03

lou Cupp u CHeTlsucu poSseSSaoh
OF the present church at Brandon. 1t
was doubtless used by both churches
as long as they remained In the same
parish. for after the separation In
1857 we find an appropriation of $40
at Merchants Houe for a communion
service. which In the one now In use
there.
The first minister in the parish
whose report We find is John Warden,
who states that he came to Virginia
In 1712. I'm six months went to Way
noak and Martin Brandon. both which
parishes were hardly sufficient to
maintain a minister. therefore / re-
moved to Lawns Greek. Surry, Janu-
airy 80. l7iT." In the meanwhile Pc
ter Fontaine had come 20 the colony
I'm Ills. He preached at Weyanoke
and Martins Brandon: some time
after at Wallingford and jamestown.
all belonging to distinct parishes" At
ter 1870. when changes were made In
many parish lines, Fontaine was gwen
the charge of Westover, which now
lay entirely on the north side of the
river, and we hear of no one at Mar
tins Brandon till the time of Alexan-
der Finnie In 1764-1755. Bishop
Meade mentions Coutts as incumbent
from 1773-177e. Ten years. later Bla-
interval by Rev. John Jones Spooner.
Then follows a silence In the paro-
chial reports. Bishop Meade tells US
that thesa were not lost years, how
ever. A consacrated man from Rhode
Island worked among the people dur
ing this time. ably assisted by lay
helpers. In 1928 Bishop Moore re-
ports his intention to send a mission
airy to Prince George and Surry.
| through whose labours l hope for a
revival Of the church and the restora-
ton of her excellent FORM of wor-
ship" Rev. John Cole was the man
selected. but In 1880 we find him IN
| Gloucester, and no report Of Martins
| Brandon reaches the convention for
another seven years. Then the Rev.
! r. e. Northam, rector of Brandon and
Cabin Point tSurry), took charge of
Merchants Hope, repaired the church
and formed a vestry. .
/ Then came the formal division of
the parish. Brandon church and Ca
| bin Point became united in a parish,
to be known as Martins Brandon ana
Southwark. The parsonage was cedeC
TO Merchants Hope. and Rev. Il. l..
| johnson was called. He was followed
| by Rev. John S. Marlborough. The
war came on, and the church build
! ing suffered Dissertation. 1t was Used
! as a stable, while the high -ews were
/ torn out to furnish flooring for the
enetny's tents. For these damages the
/ court of claims has now allowed sat-
! isfaction, and the vestry is about tu
receive indemnity. After the war Ms.
Hansboyough returned to the desolat-
ed parish, and ministered there till
1870, followed by Rev. William f.
Gardner and E.. Valentine Jones. Dur
! an MI fr f,f all
Jones saw his eharga proper greatly.
The old places near by still sent tn cir
representatives whenever the church
doors were opened---the Cookies. of
J Tar Bay: the BANDS, OF Jordan s
! Point; the Wilicoxes. of Flower de
Hundred. and the Ruffins, of Beech
wood.
The last rector to serve the church
was Rev. F. q. Ribble. now of Peters
| burg,
Whenever the doors are opened the
church Ii filled with eager. interested
| listeners. but II Ia impossible for the
congregation. In existing circum-
stances. to support q minister. The
building 10 in perfect repair. due to
the untiring seal Of Its small congre-
CATION. II has stood in Its integrity
through all these years. witnessing to
the uudytng religion planted in our
land BY its early settlers. After years
OF prosperity the Civil War came,
working ruin to the whole region. The
tide of life swept out and left 1t
stranded. No county in the State,
perhaps has felt changed conditions
more kssnly. In some portions the
solitude h wonderfully like desoiation.
and the pines In the old corn rows
have almost reached maturity. Per-
hAps the awakening viii some day
oome. When 1t does 1t will find the
living church OF Christ standing to
/ testify that In the arrestment of ma
terial progress and the long sleep
which looked like death. her influence
went out unfaftertngiy. whereby many
hearts have been quickened.