The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-10
Old Yeocor1ico Church Recently
Celebrated lO5th Anniversary

Lancaster. Va. September 9.--O!d
Ssocom,co Church. whose I05th ami
rersary recently has been celebrated,
LOT westmoreland county Tor three
Quarters of century the pious wor-
tshpers who gathered within nits
sacred precin;s were devout mem
F. bers OF the ancient Church of
lEngland and loyal subjects OF the SOW
ereigns of Great Britain. The ancej
tors of many of those who have been
prominent in the annals Of Virginia
Were among the worsh!pers in this
quaint old building. Among them
CoNes. Fitzhushs. Tuberviiles. New
tons. Rusts, BealeS, NashinStons.
Murphys. Mayos Allertons, Browns.
Griffiths. Steptoes. Campbeils and
others ia mous IN the colonial annals
OF Virginia,
T. following account OF u visit toI
the old church is taken from the re-
port of Bishop Meade, in 1885:
'On Monday l went in company with
Mr.. Nelson TO Yeocomico Church, ill
Westmoreland. where L preached and
administered the rite OF confirmation
TO three persons
"Yeocomico Church. so called aftei
the river OF that name is one of the
old churches, being built in the year
1905 The architecture Ia rough. but
very strong, and the materials nlu5,
have been of the best kind. Its fig
ure is that OF a cross and. situated
as it IS. in a little recess from the
main road, in the midst of some aged
trees. and surrounded by an old brick
wall which is fast Wondering away. |
lit cannot fail to he an object OF in
terest TO one whose soul has any
teympathy for such scenes. II has un-
idergone but little repair since it's first
erection. and indeed has needed 1T
q single new single has ever been
'Pur upon the roof, and the pews and
whole interior are tho same. During
the late war It was shamefully abused |
by the soldiers who were quartered !
Tin It while watching the movements |
lof the British on the Potomac
! Tho communion table was removed
itntc rhe yard, where IL served as a
butchers block. and was entirely de
faced Being of substantial materials. |
however it admitted Of q new face
and polish. and is now restored to its |
former place. where 1t vii answer. we
trust, for a long time TO come. the |
holy purposes for which IL was origi |
'nally designed Nor was the bapt.small
font exempt from PROCLAMATION. II WAS
taken some miles from the church. /
and used a vessel in which to pre- !
pare the eXcitements to ungodly mirth. !
This. however was not long permitted. |
FOR in the absence of every member |
of our communion. mono being left to
do IL. a venerable old man of the |
Presbyterian connection. mortified att
the dishonor done to religion. took !
pains TO REGAIN IL and restore II to !
It's former place. II is a large and
beautiful marble font, and by its side ]
renewal of baptismal vows from the
lips of those vino We're confirmed Inc
canvas on which the Ten Command
lnents. the Lords Prayer and the |
Creed were impressed was so torn
by the soldiers that they could no |
longer be permitted TO retain their
place, and are now lying in fragments |
in one of the distant and unoccupied |
pews
II deserves to be mentioned that
whatever repairs have been put upon
this house were at the expense OF |
the GOOD man mentioned above. and
worthy gentleman OF New York, n |
member OF our communion. and whose
matrimonial connection in the family
often brought him to that part OF
Virginia. y large and excellent stove, |
winch completely warmed the whole !
church. was a present from the latter. :
end on the desk and pulpit the Bible E
and Prayer Book bear the name of j. !:
Rogers, of New York"
"rhe good man mentioned above 4:
was Mr.. Murphy, who lived at Ayr-
field, an estate adjoining tho church ,
The worthy gentleman of New York |
was Mr.. William l. Rogers. of Prince
Ton New Jersey, who, as member
of the ThirtysiXth Regiment of
United states Infantry was stationed .
with his company in the vicinity o.;
the church in the spring Of 1914 In
en interesting letter 70 Bishop Meade.
which IS published at length in lus