Pastor Ric, Would you happen to be June Collins' Pastor Ric from Radford??? Kat Fulcher On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 1:40 PM, Pastor Ric < [email protected]> wrote: > Thank you. Missed you this morning. > > Pastor Ric > <>< > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 5:40 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [VAFLOYD] Early History of Methodism in Floyd > > This is long so I will try to send it in two parts. It may contain info > that is useful to someone. > -------- > > Early History of Methodism Given > > The Floyd Press > July 1, 1976 > > > America has experienced three great historic religious awakenings 1734, > 1800 and 1858 respectively. Some pre-sent day religious leaders seem to > think there is much evidence to show that our country may be entering a > fourth Great Awakening of religious interest. > > It is believed that during the second period of religious movement that > Methodism moved into the area which is now Floyd County. As the people moved > into the unset-tled hill country they brought with them a culture which > included certain religious be-liefs. Since Methodism had its origin in > England through the inspiration and leadership of John Wesley and others > their followers were chiefly English speaking groups. > > In 1811, when the Rev. John J. Miller, a Lutheran Missio-nary was traveling > in the area of what is now Floyd County he made the following entry in his > Journals of (he Missionary Of Virginia; "the English people are here, as in > most parts of our country, a divided people - Baptist, Methodist and > Presbyterian and no regular minister among them." > > >From the various early writings there is much evidence to lead one to > believe that there were many early religious groups organized in Floyd. They > worshipped in various types of buildings as barns, school buildings and the > home long before the first churches were constructed. In many cases more > than one denomination used the same building. > > Bennetts history of Methodism in Virginia states that Thomas and Samuel > Kennerly, Methodist itine-rants preached in Christiansburg about the > beginning of the nineteenth century. They are believed to be the first > Methodist ministers to preach in Montgomery County, which then embraced all > of Floyd County. > > The Rev. Lorenzo Dow was one of the most colorful figures in Methodism. > According to tradition, he preached at Major Goodson's at a place known as > Turtle Rock. This is considered the starting point of Methodism in > Floyd County. It is known that the same Rev. Dow preached in the camp > meetings as early as 1804. He was a most forceful speaker. Francis Hogan. as > a small boy, heard him preach to some soldiers of the War of 1812 on the > town square in Christiansburg. Even though he was only five or six years old > he grew up with vivid memories of the experience. > > This same Francis Hogan came to Floyd County from Montgomery County to live > in 1837. According to court, records he is listed as a leader in > establishing one or more churches in the early history of the county. > > A deed dated Oct. 26, 1837 was made by Henry Link and his wife. Polly, to > these Trustees: George Godby, Henry Link, William Thomp-son., Jacob > Douthat and Francis Hogan for the sum of $1.00. .... "in trust for who may > be called upon or sent to preach agreeably the Metho-dist Discipline." The > site is still marked by the grave of Henry Link. This location is in Little > River District, north of EI-Tenedor on State Road 608. > > This is believed to be the site of Friendship Church. It is also thought to > be the first attempt by the Methodist to construct a church building in (he > newly organized county. > > The Methodist and Lutheran had joint ownership. Destitute circumstances > during the Civil War period kept the Church from flourishing. The > mem-bership was later absorbed in the Stonewall Congregation. Some of the > members were William McNeil and daughters. Lydia, Nannie and Jane. > > The camp meetings of the 1800's still flourished and the fruits of them are > yet seen today in many families. The first camp meeting was held in Floyd > County about 1833 or 34 on the land of George Goody Koontz (William > Goody Koontz lived there later). The second and third were held on (he farm > of Joseph Kennerly who was an older brother of the Rev. Samuel Kennerly. > These were in the neighbor-hood of the Falling Branch Church. The seventh > and eighth were held in the east end of the county near Locust Grove. > > The first Methodist con-gregation organized in the more eastern part of > the county was Iddings Chapel in the Locust Grove community. It is believed > to have been an outgrowth of the camp meet-ings. The exact facts are not > known. . > > The legendary story says that the church services were held in a log > tobacco barn on the land of Henry Iddings. The land was later owned by the > late G. W. King and then by his son, the late Albert F. King. > > After 1850 or the third great awakening there was some movement in the > county to establish more Methodist churches. Early court records .examined > show that leaders for (his movement were Francis Hogan and son Abram Hogan. > George Godby, George Goodykoontz, Joseph Kennerly. Isaac Goodykoontz, > Samuel Dobyns. > > Court record verify that the church in the town of Floyd. then known as > Jacksonville, had its beginning in 1854. A deed was recorded in the Clerk's > office of Floyd County June 16. 1854 in which Henry J. Jones conveyed one > parcel of land to Francis Hogan, James B. Headen, ___ Clark and Hamilton, > Trustees. "For use of the Methodist Episcopal Church South so long as said > ground shall remain within bounds of a conference recog-nized by said church > or relation to the Baltimore Conference." The earliest pastor recorded was > the Rev. Bland. In 1860 the foundation was laid for erection of a church. > The building was not completed at this time. Local history states that the > incom-plete structure was used for storage of hay during the Civil War. > > On June 15, 1867 Andrew Stephens and wife, Mira. granted to Trustees: > Francis Hogan, Samuel Dobyns, Nel-son B. Stimpson, Abram Hogan and Calohill > M. Stigleman "one parallelogram of land for church erected and not yet > finished." The church building was erected by Henry Dillon, completed in > 1871 and dedicated in 1872. This church ; building has been replaced by the > present United Methodist Church on Main Street com-pleted in 1966. The first > service was held in July 1966. > > The court records show that on June 15. 1854 Robert and Margaret Caldwell > as grantors deeded for $1.00 to the following Trustees: William Litton, > Lewis Weeks, Isaac Goodykoontz and David Howell - "to hold in trust for use > of the Methodist Episcopal Church South one lot of land on Indian Creek and > Greasy Creek to be used as a place of religious worship and a school house." > > No records are available as to the use of this building for a church. > > In some communities more than one denomination shared in the construction > and use of the church building. One church of this type was; > > Bethlehem shared jointly by the Methodist and Lutheran. In the deed dated > Jan. 1. 1857 Peter S. Moore of Raleigh County and James T. Law-rence, George > Epperly, Jacob E. Lawrence, Benjamin Phlegar, John Basham, Nathan Basham, > Samuel Dobyns are named trustees for the Luthe-ran and Methodist church. > > In 1890 another deed. was recorded for the same church in which trustees > are named for three congregations in the Bethlehem church as follows: For > Methodist Episcopal Church South. James E. Lawrence and James A. Sowers; > for Methodist Episco-pal Church. Jubal L. B. Anderson and Benjamin > Basham. The Lutheran trustees named were Henry Wells and Jacob E. > Lawrence. > > The Lutherans no longer worship at Bethlehem. The congregation is now known > as Camp Bethel as it is consoli-dated with Camp Creek United Methodist > Church. > > The 1880s were fruitful years for the establishment of small Methodist > Churches in different sections of the county. > > Another article will appear in The Floyd Press giving the history of these > churches at a later date. > During the Second Great .Awakening of the early 1800's Methodism was > rapidly spreading westward across the Appalachians. Court records reveal > that deeds were record-ed for the construction of three Methodist churches > during the period 1837-1857. They were: 1837 Friendship, 1854 Floyd. and > 1857 Bethlehem. It is reasonable to assume that many classes were organized > in different parts of the county and regular services held in homes long > before deeds were recorded -- "The Churches of Asia salute you. Aquilla and > Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their > house'. I Cor. 16:19. > > In the local organization of the .church the first unit formed was the > class. The class was made up of interested persons and from this group a > leader was selected. The class leader was a very important factor in the > organization of the early Methodist congregation. The leader kept the group > ready for the circuit rider who made regular visits to each class organized. > The class leader sometimes became an exhorter or even a local preacher. > An excellent exam-ple of this is the record of the late Rev. Peter R. Vest > who united with the church in 1852, was appointed class leader in 1866. > licensed to exhort in 1871, licensed to preach In 1873 and continued until > 1917. Most of his work was done in the eastern part of the county. > > Probably the most vital person in the spreading of Methodism through the > early settlements was the circuit rider. He was a dedicated, hardy soul with > his wardrobe in one side of his saddle bag and in the other side, a Bible, > hymn book and a copy of the Methodist Discipline, which was a very strong > document. He rode horseback many miles through fair and inclement weather in > order that the word of Christ might reach the most distant pioneer. > > He was required to study so he read books as he rode. The Methodist Book > Concern was established in 1789 to furnish literature to all circuits. It > was not uncommon for a rider to have so many appointments that it would take > four or. five weeks to cover his circuit. In 1803. the New River circuit > ranged from Giles County to North Carolina, from Montgo-mery county to > WytheviIIe. This embraced the area which is now Floyd County. The Salt of > the Widemeac by Jess Carr which tells (he story of Robert Sheffey depicts > the rugged life of the circuit rider. He visited and preached in Floyd > County on a few occasions. > > Marriage was discouraged for preachers. Most circuits were too poor to > support a wife and family. In 1800 the voted to raise the salary from $64 > per year to $80. > > The first churches in Floyd County were organized as a part of the > Baltimore Conference which had its beginnings Dec. 24, 1784. At this great > Christmas Conference the Methodist Church organization was created and the > name Methodist Episcopal Church was adopted. As the church grew other > conferences were organized, the Holston Conference in 1824, the Virginia > Conference in 1857. The Floyd County churches today are governed by these > two conferences. Each confe-rence is divided into districts which in early > days were under the leadership of a presiding cider, (1792) now known as the > district superintendent. One of the duties assigned (he pre-siding elder was > to keep his preachers supplied with books for study. > > The early part of the nineteenth century brought growing dissatisfaction > with church government. The result was secession from the church. The > first group to separate themselves was the African Methodist Episcopal > Church. Another group under the name of Methodist Protes-tant was formed in > 1830. The Methodist Episcopal Church stand on abolition led to the > establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Political issues continued > to threaten the church and the final break came in 1844 over the ownership > of slaves. The church then became known as Methodist Episcopal Church South > and Methodist Episco-pal Church. Sometimes the word. North, was added to the > last group mentioned to clearly distinguish between the two groups. > > The Methodist churches in the eastern section of Floyd county were known as > Methodist Episcopal. The Floyd church and those west and north of the town > of Floyd were known as Methodist Episcopal Church south. From 1865-1939 two > Holston Conferences occupied the same territory and each governed churches > in Floyd county, since this area was transferred out of Baltimore Conference > to Holston in 1860. > > > > -- > Jack Spangler > Ellicott City, MD > > To contact Listowner: > Rena Worthen [email protected] > View the Floyd County Virginia Website at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafloyd/floyd.htm > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > To contact Listowner: > Rena Worthen [email protected] > View the Floyd County Virginia Website at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafloyd/floyd.htm > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >