The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-16
CHURCH OBSERVES
ITS centennial
HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF
CENTENARY CHURCH occA-
SION OF SPECIAL SERMON
TO MAKE ADDITI N
CHALKLEY PROPERTY ADJOINING
TO BE USED ron ENLARGE
MENT OF PRESENT
EDIFICE
TO MAKE ADDITI N

Simple exercises and a sermon by
Rev. w. ]. Young. d. D., pastor, on
"A Hundred Years of Church
Life" marked the observance yester-
day of the centennial anniversary of
Centenary NJ. E. church. The hun
dredth year of the church's HISTORY
will be- further marked by the pur-
chase of the Chalkley properly adj
joining at cost VI approximately
$4,000, on which will be erected an
addition to the church, whose MEM
beIshlp Is now about equal 10 It's seat
ing capacity.
Centenary Methodist church. an off,
sh DOT of Trinity church, the oldest
Methodist church in Richmond, was
founded one hundred years ago as
shockoe Methodist church, the dedi-
catory sermon being preached by
Thomas Logan Carlton. In ISL.
while the work was under way, the
founders of the church became dis
Outraged at their inability TO secure
the necessary funds for the compile
ton of the new building. and were
about to abandon the movement.
Bishop Asbury came to Richmond,
and. holding services in the incom-
pleted structure. made such stirring
appeal that the funds were shortly
forthcoming and the work pushed 10
completion. The new building was
in Marshall stree, between Fourtn
and Fifth streets. Rev. g. w. Carl
ton was the first pastor.
The present church building on
East Grace street, between Fourth
and Fifth streets, was dedicated n
IS42. The work was begun in 1889.
the centennial of the founding or
Methodism, and was erected with the
proceeds Of the Wesley centennial
campaign for funds began In that
year. when the centennial was OBJ
served i'm England and America. From
this fact the present name OF Zen
tenary'' church was derived.
Rev. Edward Wadsworth preached
the dedicatory sermon and Rev. w. |.
Waller was the first pastor. when
the congregation Anayed TO. the new
church, the old one was sold Tor the
sum OF $4,000. The old church still
stands, being used as a store
A number of alterations and I'M
provements have given the building
erected In ls42 seating capacity OF
about 1906 persons. In 1888 an adj
ditlon was made to the rear. and
later a new pipe organ was ihslAheo'
Since 1912 four churches have been
formed in Richmond as offshoots from
Centenary church. They are Laurel
street Methodist church. first orsan-
lied as Oregon chapel; Park Place
Methodist church, originally known as
sidney chapel, the Highland PARK
Methodist church and Clay Street
Rev. W. j. Young. WIN. Ia now
serving the second year of his sec
ond pastorate at Centenary church.
came to II first in 1908. He stayed
the full four years allowed. and was
removed In 1907. only 10 return in
1911.
In addition to DIR. Young, Or. r.
n. SIedd and DR.. John e. Edwards
served two terms as pastor OF the
church.
Thomas Fl. Lambeth. the grand
father of Rev. Graham III. Lambeth,
now editor of the Baltimore and Rich
nond Christian Advocate. was one OF
the six original trustees Of the pres
emit church ed'ice. The others were
Richard Whitfield. wiIlism Evans.
william willis. John j. Binford and
Henry Tatum.