The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-05

down in 1874 because il was deemed
unsafe. and In 1879 the present house
OF worship. which Is a substantial one
rev months this church building has
been thoroughly remodeled and has
been enlarged as we'll Il wing having
been added on each side. The seating
capacity OF the church is now from
500 TO coo. In addition to the recent
improvements made In the church and
the refurnishing. gas lighting system
and furnace have been installed, thus
giving 10 the membership one of the
best country church buildings 10 be
found in the general assembly.
Copies OF the Bible constituted nm
important part OF the portable prop
erty OF the early settlers OF the Ala
nance community, as Is evidenced b.
numbers OF copies TO be seen there at
THIS time that bear dates early In the
eighteenth century. The strong reiic-
ious sentiment of the community in
the early days is shown further by the
TACT that among the favorite books In
the libraries there were the Confession
OF Faith. the catechism, pilgrim $
Progress" and FoX's Book of Martyrs"
The Alamance community; the ter
ritory Of which extended over an area
or sixteen miles. grew rapidly after
the deed TO the church propcrtv was
1SNViNtu Hc origin OIL the name Ala
nance is not known. Agriculture was
tho first Industry in which the people
or this community engaged.
Historic Territory.
Tho original highest court OF the
Presbyterian Church In America was
tho Synod Of Philadelphia. which was
organized early in the eighteenth cen
fury. The Synod of New York was or
ganized n short time afterwards. and
these two synods were then united
under the name OF tho United Synod
OF Philadelphia and New York The
general assembly was constituted in
1888. and In the same year what was
known as the synod of the Carolinas
was organized. embracing tho terri
tory OF North Carolina and South Caro-
line. and 1t was In 1913 that the sep
arate Synods OF North Carolina and
South Carolina were organized. The
first preshytery south Of Virginia was
organized at Hawfields. n. c.. in Sep.
tember. 1910: il was given the name
Orange Prcsbytery. and its territory
included large scope OF country and
churches which are now in several
States. Alamnncc Church. In which the
Synod Of North Carolina was organ
lied several years later. was in a part
of this historic territory.
The Synods OF Philadelphia and New
York sent ministers frequently &c
in the South and Southwest. and te
administer the ordinances of the
church. 1t was one OF these ministers
Rev. Henry Patillo. who organized Ala
nance Church. probably in 17G2. The
first pastor of this church was Rev
David Caldwell. Il native of Pennsyl-
vania. and tho first church building
was erected in 1862. it being succeeded
by tho second in 1900. Adjoining tn,
churchyard is the graveyard the first
headstones being of slate and soap
stone, OF quaint device, and bearing
singular inscriptions. What is believed
to be the Oldest headstone in the grave
yard is that OF q child. and il bear.
the date of death October ii, 1861.
Alamnnce Church was organized
with twenty-five members THIS mum
| Der was Increased soon to seventy five
and remained Mt that figure until 1880
| when, as the result OF n great reviva
| In tho community tho year previous
| the number of members WAS increased
| TO 100. IT has boon said frequently
that tho original type OF Alamanct
Christianity was fervent and IL ha:
SO remained. and the history OF tho
church has been marked By revivnls.
| The frat three pastors Of this church
Roy. David Caldwell Rev. Ell Cnru
| theirs and Rev. william l. Miller
were missionaries sent from thu
United Synod and their work extended
| through 1866 Nine pastors hive serv
ed this church since that time. tn,
present pastor being Rev. a. w. Craw
ford, who began his work there Il