(p. 74) PERIOD OF SECOND BUILDING AS THE Church continued to grow and the needs of the congregation increased, the old building was found to be inadequate to its wants. In July, 1867, the congregation was called together to discuss the building of a new house of worship. The project met with its approval, and steps were taken to put the plans into execution. It was decided to erect a building, costing about $10,000; $7,000 of this was to be raised by an ad valorem tax. A committee of the following brethren was appointed by the Church to make the assessment: Philip Ammerman, W. L. Northcutt, J. S. Withers, A. Garnett, and John Musselman. Leon Cuson, Jos. H. Shawhan, Thos. Ashbrook, Spears Smith, and J. S. Withers were appointed a committee to purchase a suitable lot on which to build, to decide upon the plan of the building, to make all the necessary contracts for its erection, and to dispose of the old house. A committee for soliciting subscriptions was composed of Dr. Rutherford, C. West, T. V. Ashbrook, John L. Shawhan, and D. W. Case. (p. 77) It was decided to retain the old site, but as the lot was too small for the contemplated new building, G. Remington and J. S. Withers, acting as trustees of the Church, purchased from John Norris a lot on Main Street, 60 feet square, for which they paid $600 and a part of the old lot on Mill Street. On this lot, fronting 60 feet on Mill Street and 104 feet on Main Street, the second church building was erected in 1868 and 1869. It was a large, modern house, built of brick, and was, at the time of its erection, considered one of the best church buildings in the surrounding country. The door faced on Mill Street, and was reached by a flight of six or more steps, which led into a vestibule communicating with the auditorium by three doors, each opening into an aisle of moderate and convenient breadth. In the rear was a large bay window in which was a platform large enough to accommodate the preacher and the choir. The front of the building was ornamented by a large, square tower, with spires at each corner, extending some seventy feet above the street. The interior was well arranged for ordinary services, though there was only one room, with the seats in two sections, separated from each other and the walls by the aisles. The basement was used for the infant class room at Sunday-school; in the unfinished part the furnace was located. The house was well lighted, with four windows on each side, and (p. 78) two in each end of the building; these were of stained glass, in quiet and well-chosen colors. At night services, five chandeliers gave plenty of light to the room, the lamps being replaced later on by electric lights. As the building neared completion and met with the approval of the people, several handsome individual contributions were made, which deserve to be mentioned. The chandeliers, valued at $250, were furnished by Mr. Henry E. Shawhan; Hon. T. J. Megibben provided for the frescoing, $325; the pulpit, costing $110, was presented by C. B. Cook; the seats, $700, by T. V. Ashbrook; and the stained glass, $250, was presented by G. W. Taylor. It seems strange that people of this faith should, in these modern days, build a church without a baptistry; but such was the case in this instance. In 1874 a baptistry was constructed under the rostrum, convenient to the basement, which was used as dressing-rooms for the preacher and the candidate, affording, however, very meager accommodation. While Elder C. B. Edgar was ministering to the church, in 1885 or 1886, a parsonage was built. This is a handsome brick residence, with eight or ten rooms, and situated in one of the best parts of the town. Many interesting and profitable protracted meet (p. 81) ings were held in this church building at different times. From an old Democrat, published in 1873, ,ve find the following: "The meeting at the Christian Church, in this city, still continues with unabated interest. Up to the present time, about forty additions have been made. Elder McGarvey is still laboring with that earnestness and zeal so characteristic of himself." In 1892, while Elder Yancey was pastor, S. M. Martin, a well-known evangelist of the Christian Church, held a two months' meeting with over one-hundred additions. The revival was attended by intense excitement in all the Churches, and a searching of the Scriptures to prove or disprove certain doctrines. The Wilkes-Ditzler Debate, which occurred in 1870, was a memorable event in the Church's history. After thirty years of service the old house at last was deemed too small for the growing needs of the congregation, which now numbered about five hundred. While we are always ready to welcome something new, it was with feelings akin to sadness that the congregation met for its last service in the old church on the first Lord's-Day in July, 1899. The service was turned into a kind of love-feast, which was enjoyed as a rarity; old hymns were sung, things of interest were told, and, with some (p. 82) reluctance, the people bade farewell to an old friend, recalling past triumphs and failures, in the great cause, in the old house, and looking forward to fewer sorrows and greater rejoicings in their new home. The second church period was marked by not only an increase of membership, but also by a widening influence and spreading out into new and broader fields of work. Five organizations were formed which added their help and support to the Church proper: Sunday-school, C. W. B. M., Gleaners, Ladies' Aid, and the Endeavor. -- Bob Francis 1920A Butner St. Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 My Homepage is: http://www.shawhan.com Ruddell's Fort Page: http://www.shawhan.com/ruddlesfort.html Early Bourbon County Families Page: http://www.shawhan.com/bourbonfamilies.html