The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-02
LAST MEETING IN
| OLD N. {. CHURCH
/ Large Congregation Bids Fond
Farewell to Clay Street
Structure.
MEMB ERsHIP SPLITS
Property Is Sold to Colored
People, and Individuals
Transfer Membership to
Other Charges.

Members Of Clay Street Methodist
church held their last services. as a
unit. yesterday afternoon in their
old place of worship at Adams and
Clay streets. The congregation has dis
banded and its members win be scat
tered among the various churches In
the city. Suitable ceremonies marked
the last service meeting.
DR.. Samuel c. Hatcher. vice -presi-
dent of Randolph Macon college. and
G, r. Hunt. former teacher super
intendent of the Sunday school made
addresses Letters from several OF the
former pastors were read by DR.. New
berry. pastor of the church. A history
of the church was given by Asa john
con. superintendent. of the Sunday
school.
Or. Hatcher pointed out In his ad-
dress the fact that Clay Street Metho-
dist church was not disbanding and
breaking up as a matter OF fact it
liz to be accomplished was enough
to spur the members on to even great
err efforts than in the past.
Mr.. Hunt related "reminiscences
OF the church and told of how he
came there many years ago and join
ed the Sunday school class. He was
made teacher of the class later on
and finally was made superintendent
OF the Sunday school which position
he held for number of years. Mr..
HUNT stu lis member OF the church
In the history OF the church deliv-
cred by Mr.. Johnson he told OF the
organizing Of the church in 1914, This
organization was perfected by small
group OF people in the house OF
member OF the group near the corner
OF Brooke Avenue and Clay streets.
1t is not known by any of the pres
ent members OF the congregation what
the names Of any OF this group were
or In whose house the services were
held
The First Binding
Interest In the church began TO
grow from the time 1t was started
and within two years II was necessary
to have. a chapel SO great had the
membership increased. IaIneN NJ. IaX.
Tor. ffyner " n s9rdon Taylor. built
this Chapel in 1896 at Brook avenue
and Madison streets. The chapel was
erected by Mr.. Taylor himself and
given 70 the church.
Leroy NJ. Lee was the first pastor
OF Clay street Methodist church be-
ing appointed at the time the church
began worship In the chapel In 1s4S
and continuing Az pastor nEi} lSSa.
when the church moved to the site
at Adams and Clay street.
+. Marshall Peterson was the first
pastor of the church following the re-
moval to the new place OF worship he
was succeeded by Rev. W. II. Atwill.
Since Mr. Anvil the following have
been pastors OF the church: f. II.
Rawlings, DIR. r. Men. Simpson, DIR.
s. s. Lambeth. father OF DR.. Lam
beth pastor OF the Monument Metho-
dist church. r. +. Waterfield George
Wesley Jones. r. NJ. Chandler, John
l.. Bray and Rev. George II. New
berry. the present pastor.
Since it's organization in fs44 the
church has continued to grow and
prosper until now the handful OF
hundred
Mcrges With Grace
Several weeks ago the church In
structed the trustees to effect mer-
ger with the Grace Methodist church
! with the object OF building new
house of worship on the corner OF
Stuart avenue and the Boulevard.
! Plans for the consolidation OF tho
the churches were completed and the
| present Clay Street church sold to the
, Methodist Zion church, a coiored or
ganization of this city.
| At the present time the Grace
Methodist church Is holding services
In the chapel of the Soldiers Home
but with the consolidation of the two
work will be begun as soon as posi-
Bile on the new church. The money
realized by the sale OF the Clay Street
property will be used to erect the
new structure.
| Members of both congregations are
contemplating beginning work on the
i new building before the year Is out
weafher md hnilding conditions per.
hitting. At this time II L. impossible
to say who will be the pastor OF the
church when 1t Is com pleted. This
! Methodist conference starts next
week and 1t will appoint a pastor fcl
, the now church.
The church as 1t stands today Is cx,
actly like 1t was when first erected
| with the exception Of the front and
J - issa