The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-22
HANDSOME NEW STRUCTURE Is
DEDICATED WITH TIRED
SERVICES.
HISTORY IS GIVE N
REV. CHARLES SMITH TELLS OF
STEADY GROWTH OF FULTON
METHODIST CHURCH--DH.
SIMPSON breaches.

handsome new edince. located in Full
| ton. which recently reached compile
| ton. was. formally opened yesterday
afternoon. with Appropriate exercises.
conducted by DIR. 7. Men. Simpson.
| presiding elder OF the Richmond Dis
trict Addresses were delivered by
DIR. s. c. Hatcher and DIR. Long. for
| mer pastors OF the church. and DR.
Simpson. all of which we're especially
/ interesting.
A historical sketch Of Method'sm in
| Fulton was read by Rev. Chariea
Smith. assistant pastor OF the church.
| telling when II was begun way back
In 1852. until the present day. When
the nrst church was erected In Full
1 ton Ii had a membership OF only
eight, while at the present time.
/ largely dus TO the uutirinG efforts of
/ the pastor. Rev. j. w. Eure. 1t has a
total OF s64 on the roll.
| Struggles of Church.
I DIR. Long. who served as pastor of
! Denny Street. Church some twenty
I two years ago. told OF the struggles
/ tho church had experienced and the
disbursements 1t had encountered
DIR. Hatcher, who did much for the
church while he was filing the pas
| torate, rad many words OF encour-
agement to say 10 members Of the
&tHAa rSAisos4t aAd bA~-0NhAs,iAJ Ekhi
ed collection which resulted In s2,-
$50 being secured 10 help the build
| ing fund. DIR. simpson. who declared
the church formally opened. asserted
that the people of Fulton were to he
congratulated upon having such "a
/ handsome house of worship, Mrs. w,
b. Anderson rendered an interesting
solo.
1t was IL busy day In Denny-street
Church ycsterday--three services be-
sides Sunday School. were held AZ
II o'clock DR.. S. c. Hatcher conduct
ed services. while the regular even
Ing sermon was delivered at s
o'clock by DR.. Simpson. Special mu-
sic was heard at al. Of the services.
Historical Sketch.
Following ts a historical sketch OF
Methodism In Fulton. read at the
opening services by Rev. Charles
Smith:
"Methodism was begun In Fulton
early in 1859 by two local preachers.
Pethehridge and Dowden. These men
homes until 1854, when Nicholson
Street Church was erected, AT the
conference In Norfolk. November.
1854, this charge was supplied by
Rev Mr.. Pe;hebridge. In 1856. Rev
J. X. Powers was appointed to this
charge, tho church having a mem.
hership Of eight. The following year
came Rev. J. X. Lttleton. having q
gain OF twenty-eissnt members. with
a total Of thirty-six.
This year our church was called
Wesley Chapel
I'm 1887 Rev. c. c. Pearson sue
ceeded IN the passionate. with 1o4 on
roll. Rev. j. F. Boggs came to US in
l1S5a, with membership OF l21. In
1850 Wesley Chapel and Trinity work
ed together. with Rev. J. ID. Black
well a. cenior and Rev. III. w. Bell
man as junior. In 1850 Rev. A. q.
Brown and W. F. Jones were in
charge. and as the previous year our
members were reported with Trinity.
In 1861 our church was a separate
charge. left TO be supplied, having
membership OF eighteen.
Trinity to the Front
I'm 1861 Trinity again came TO our
assistance. with Rev. J. z. Edwards
and J. T.. Martin in charge. In 1858
the church had again a membership
of three, and was left to be supplied
In 1865 there was a membership OF
forty lone. There is no record OF
1S66-87. In 1868. having roll OF
twenty-five, this church was again LETT
to be supplied. In 1859 the Virginia
conferences 4neI ia ISiGHIAOHAs uHn 80.
church was now placed in charge OF
Rev. r. A. Armstead. with a roll OF
forty-six. Rev. II. H. Mullen came In
1870, and served three years, with
membership Of seventy-three. In
1879 our church was again united
with Trinity. with Rev. A. G. Biedsoc
IN charge and r.. II, Mullen supplied.
Rev. III. +. Bacon came TO Wesley
Chapel In 1874. This year the name
was Changed to Nicholson Street. In
1875 Rev II. y. Beadles was pastor.
members. scventy-nine Conference
met In Richmond In 1876. Rev. Paul
Bradley served Nicholson Street. with
ninety members.
Becomes Discouraged.
THE following year came w. H.
Edwards, Ir 1878 J. w. Connolly
was pastor. With ninety-eight on roll
In 1879 j. H. Slcdd was pastor. with
ninety-seyex, on roll. T. II. Sledd
served only nine months and became
discouraged. and left the charge un-
supplied. Brother Rstess AZ college,
student, came to our assistance and
filled the remaining three monthk
REV. Mr.. psg4a came In 1890 with =
ImemberShtp ~ los.
's ~ s'assE ~ q ns s - q