Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-03-01
BY MRS. 4. {. ID. NOE

by StRS. a. I. H. WI
BATH Feb. 29.-St. Thomas Church
in B.,rn. built III 1874. OF English
brick =, Ith Flemish-Bond Workman
ship. IS the oldest religious edIllce N
the State. It has many valuable relics
among which are: The Queen Anne
bell cast in London III l'%2. making
il eighteen years older than the
Liberty Bell and doubtless the oioeS'
in the United States: 4 Bible IN Il
glass case. printed III England IN
1903, was used in the services mere
before the church was built, and was
long preserved by the AShe family
whose ancestors lived at Bath IN the
early zoos: lovely three-5ranched
candleStickS OF Sheffield silver. pre-
sented 10 the church by King George
II. of England: large hand-Wrou2ht
silver chalice from the BlSnop CT
London to the Rev. John Garzla,
first rector OF the church: 4 BOOK
from the first public library IN the
province, it being bound IN leather
and stamped in gold letters. Belong
ing to Ye Library OF ST. IhonaS
Parish. Pamlicough. So far as IS
known it is the only remaining BOOK
from the collection OF over thou-
sand volumes printed in England ana
sent to the parish in 1899, by the
Rev. Thomas Bray.
The church was built by our
worthy ancestors. OF whom we are
lust proud. who in spite OF hard
Ships and privationS dedicated 4
temple TO the Lord Their de-
scendantS are members OF all
churches. For more than two
centuries this little temple on the
Pamlico has been 1 religious shrine
and regardless OF oenomlnauonal
utilization thousands have come here
for worship and Tor revival ot
their faith. on the sacred spot where
their fathers PAT first things first.
St. Thomas IS now being restored
to its former state. 10 be preserved
Tor the present and future genera
tons. 1t is fitting that The WORK De
done by North Ca.alin.&nS a> me-
mortal to the faith and courage OF
these brave pioneers who la!d Iirm
foundations for Us Il i MOI 4 WORK
for one person. o. Z SNAIL Srotip.
but for every man. woman and
child now living il the stotc. and
all with 4 North Carolina back
ground residing without or 2or-
derS.
The operating committee a. Bath
has worked OFT plan Whereby every
person may have ( part in the pro-
gram-"The Penny Parade details
OF which are as folio :: Each person.
in the State can send = their schools.
or civic organizations me amount
they wish TO give. and il viii be
forwarded to the s.. Thomas Res
toration Fund" al Bath. North Caro-
lima. The organizations N each place
are asked 10 appoint one chairman
for the community . receive and
transmit funds Beaufort. Pitt. and
New Hanover counties nave been
organized and funds are already
coming in. They will conduct tri-
angular contest and report results
at intervals through the press. for
the information Of others. This me-
thod + campaign is being used in
order \ save the expense Of going
from county to county organizing
units. and to make a concerted and
speedy campaign possible. Every in
dividual giving a dollar will be list
ed as giving 100 pennies: SO. a
thousand pennies ana 500. ten
thousand pennies.
Mondal morning d Pyramid of
Pennies was started on the church
lawn and the big 1900 penny, found
while excavating at the church. was
used as a foundation.
Mrs. T. A. Brooks. president of
the Bath Garden Club and Mrs. G.
w. Marsh, president of the Colonial
Book Club. representatives Of their
organizations, and local churches.
were among the first contributors to
the pile, the Rev. E. N. Harrison,
pastor OF the Bath Methodist church.
casting the first penny. Within an
hour 1000 pennies had joined the
parade. Reports Monday night reg
lstered 5000 from Washington and
5000 from Bath, and 5000 from
Wilmington.
Tuesday, local school children be-
gan pilgrimage to the pyramid to
cast their offering.
The immediate restoration pro-
gram Will include the church. the
Williams house as rectory. a ballast
rock wall around the property and 4
colonial garden. Much of this work
mas been done. Some property has