Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-06-28
THREE PASTORS FOR
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
New Providence Presbyterian
Congregation Unique
THREE BUILDINGS ERECTED
Situated in Flourishing Section of
Rockbridge

church and pastors recently appear
ed in The Presbyterian of the
South, contributed by Captain John
a. Mcneil of Lexington. From the
three articles, written in Captain
McNeels usual vigorous style, we
reproduce the following extracts:
There has been more than one
reason assigned why the first church
was named New Providence, but
the most reasonable explanation is
that many of the very first settlers
of this immediate neigh borhood
came from where they had formerly
lived in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey near Norristown, north Of
Philadelphia, and before they left
there Presbyterian church had
been built and named Providence, ,
so " hen the members OF this church
came to Virginia to make their
homes. and when they built the
church they called it New Provi-
dence.'
The first church building was
made of stone, and was begun in
the year OF 1856 and completed
about the year 1770.
The second church was a brick
building and was erected in the
year of 1872
The third and present church.
as the picture shows, is also brick
building, and dates it's existence
from the year OF 1859.
The old stone church was built
under great privatiOns, and many
are the traditions told OF how the
young girls of the congregation car
ried the sand in bags on horses
from South River, a distance OF
twelve miles, and how the older
women denied themselves OF the
most common necessities in order to
help and encourage the men to per-
feet the building.
The first regular pastor of New
Providence church was the Rev
John Brown of New Castle Presby-
terry, and if copy of the call which
was extended to him could be in.
cluded here no other words would
be necessary to tell of the great
need of preacher in the midst o
these pioneer people.
The Rev. John Brown was a ma
tive of Ireland, but his preparation
for the ministry had been completed
in America, and when he assumed
, the double charge of New Provi
, dence and Timber Ridge churche
; he was twenty-five years old an,
y unmarried.
, That the Rev. John Brown wa
a recognized leader among his pee
: pie is plainly to be seen, for afte
Mr.. Brown became pastor of Ne,
Providence and Timber Ridge. an
established his home near Fairfield
a the Robert Alexander school was RI
4 moved to that neighborhood, wher
it's site can still be pointed ou
y This was the germ from which gre,
a the Washington and Lee Univel
I sity.
q After .orty-two years of service
y in the year OF 1896 this good man r,
\ signed as pastor of New Providenc
church and moved to Kentuck
!, whittier some OF his children ha
r preceded him.
n The second pastor of New Pro,
o idence church was the Rev. Samu,
Brown, a Scotch Irishman by brit
but in no way related to his pred,
cessor. He was born in Bedfor
J. county, Virginia, in the year
S 1866.
: ITO say that the Rev. Samu
% Brown was no ordinary man in h
S sphere OF life puts light estima
It on his value as preacher and eli
S zen. In his marriage he was sp
h eially blessed with companion
" the person of Mary Moore, one
is the captives of Abs Valley, {
Y. whom centers all the pathos OF tn
of story OF Indian cruelty and God
" deJiverance stranger than fiction
t. self.
TO THE third pastor of New Pro,