The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-16
PLAN RESTORATION OF
OLD FARNHANI CHURCH
Historic Building in Richmond Coun-
~ Closely Affiliated With
States History.
DEsPoILliD BY HAND or WAR
Used nj One Time rs DistiIlcry, Even
EnHisnal Font Being Used as
Bowl for Drinking Parties of
Nci2iihnrfouGl.

SGFliSh'ai tont Being Used rs
/ Bowl for Drinking Parties OF
ciairbnrhoud.
, Old faruhrm Church. in Richuond
COUNTY. WHO'S" restoration is u matter
close - ~" hearts Of The members OF
tn" NsS", iatior for the Restoration az
i'arnhom Colonial Episcopal Church.
and IS % interest 10 the whole Epis-
! copdi Church in Virginia, has suffered
many Nicissitudcs during it's existence.
According = the Information supplied
ny the association, which Is cudcavor-
in& To effect its restoration. tho first
/ i'arnham Church was built in t73T.
! Bishop Meade. however, in his "Oid
Churches and tamilic" Of Virginia. :
makes 4 st2tcrpcnt that would tjN its
erection - date some years bcfo~c
tlat. The chroniclcr says that tho
Bishop Of London sent a circular 10
inc rector OF Washington Parish, III
Wtstmorcla,md. IN ii2S. and Il" men
lions casually that the incumbent Rev.
Laurence De Butts, preached and ad-
{ m'nlstcred the communion AT the two
n nroach"S IN = that parish and also
Northumbcrland; in Coplc Parish and
NJ farnham Church, Richmond County.
'ioweNNf mat may he. IT Is certain.
accordiii;; To Bishop Meade. that North
Farnllam Parish. which contains that
farnh;un Church now sought to be re
stored. was created in 1888. when that
section of the old Rappahannock Coun-
~ became Richmond County. In Essex
County. which was also carved out Of
Sappahannock, was created South
Farnham Parish. hut with that the
church now known as Earnham has
nothing to do. Although there must
nave been many ministers Of. this par
lSh before. the first OF whom there Is
any record was Rex. William Mackay
who was certainly in charge in 1854
ana continued to oiliciatc until l7Ti.
BISHOP Meade quantity says: From
his long continuance in the parish and
the responsibility of the people, VIC
have grounds for believing that he was
! Il worthy man
CntRCH LATER
FELL. ON EVIL. TINES
After his death on departure from
the parish, however. the church fell
| Rev. Thomas Davis. both Of Northum :
berland County. OBLIGATED in the church
from time to time for u few years.
after which there was not even a YES
try for considerable period. After
appealing to Bishop Madison who was
most anxious Ia help. but who had
great difficulty in securing even Sutii-
cieni attendance upon the convention
| OF the church. the men of the parish
IN 1896 obtained the services OF Rev.
George Young for one sunday in three.
and in 11a9 accepted like services Of
Rev. John seward.
The v"stry- hook ends in the year
lSo2, and there is no record of other
ministers. until Rev Washington Nell
son became rector in 1885. Under his
ministry old Fnrnham Church. which
had been partially DESTROYED in 1900.
was rcpa ircd III cost Of 81 ,inn-a not
inconsidcra ale sum in those days
and Bishop Meade himself took part in
the service ~ conSccration. About the
same time. a new church was built
enough. Mr. Nelson was buried near
its walls
CONGREGATIONS" by Rev. William Ward.
/ only those familiar with country
| church Lille in Virginia can apprccia Ia
! That phrase II meant. in this instance
( that Nj. Nelson preached. not only In
\ Farnham Church. but in I.uncuburS
! Parish. in the same county. and in
/ Coplc Parish. i'm Wcstmorcland County.
! And. owing 10 the unfortunate scarcity
Of clersNmcn in rural Virginia. such n
condition is not unusual "vcn to-day.
/ OCCUPIED ny TROOPS
! III RING WAR BETWt:I:N STATES
Eishon Meade says that besides tho
church about halfway between IL and
! the courthouse. the foundations Of
which can still be seen tlS5D. which
! was probably deserted at the time
North FariIham Church. was built-an
uncertain date During the War BE-
tween the States the old church was
again rendered unit for worship. and
was occupied ny both Union and Con-
! paircd--for the last time. as yct-in
\ 1871. throurh the efforts of the pres
cat Elshop Tucker. Of the Diocese OF
! Southern Virginia.
The service belonging 10 the church
/ which was on exhibition IT the lamcs-
1886 by Rev John Vaughan Lewis roc
tor of 81. Johns Parish, WASHINGTON.
/ u. G, while tiishop Meade speaks OF
! the church after its restoration in the
/ time Of Rev. Washington Nelson as
hayinr once been in christ church
Baltimore. when Rev. Mr. Johns Of
/ iiciated in the same"
The main staff Of tho building which
\ is cruciform. Is siHty-thrce feet long
arms are each twenty -four by twenty
! feet. thus making The centre y perfect
square Of twcmy-fonr feet. In ruins.
as the old building is. II is still pos
sihlc 10 mark over the south door the
! holes made by the bullets OF british
( and Americans
/ But Of all The trials through which
this brave old house Of worship has
PASSED. mono have approached those
I port 10 the convention Of lS3S. in
! which he relates the facts Of the res
/ toration and conservation of the
, church lie says
BUILDING ONCE: USED
what causes led 10 It's n esrl' 'Ids"r.
! tion. premature ISOLATION. aud shame
I hut 1t is said IS tn, nciehbors no; 10
have been used FOR the last thirty or
! forty years Thus deserted as :, house
Of God. il became the prey Ia amy and
every sp"i!"t I'm extensive brick wall
which surrounded the church aud
/ guarded tho graves of the dead was
torn down and used FOR hcarths
chimncys and other purposes. all Tho
county round. The interior of The
+ house soon Sum< into decay and was
carried picccmcai away. For many
years IL WAS the common receptacle of
every beast Of tile field and fowl ~
I the air. II was used rs a yranarv