The History of St. James Parish/Church

From:  Notes concerning the origins of churches in St. James Parish, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, prepared for Mrs. James S. Scott, Historiographer, by Sterling Hutcheson---25 August, 1965

     We have no parish records pertaining to St. James earlier than 1869, and what became of them is not known nor have I been able to locate Registers of either St. Andrews or Cumberland parishes of which St. James was formerly a part.  However, the minutes of the vestry books of those parishes for the colonial period are in existence.  The books of St. Anrews are in the Clerk's Office, Brunswick County and the one of Cumberland is, I believe, in the Clerk's Office at Lunenburg.  A copy of the latter may be found in "Cumberland Parish" by Landen C. Bell. There is also some information found in "Hening's Statutes at Large."

     From those sources we find that the County of Brunswick was created by the General Assembly of Virginia by an Act dated November 2, 1720.  At the same time it was provided that all Brunswick should constitute one Parish to be called St. Anrews.  The designation of the boundary of the new county and parishis in general terms with no reference to existing counties from which the new one was carved.  This probably consisted of parts of Prince George, Surry and Isle of Wight.  The boundary to the west was indefinite with reference to the mountains.  Pending the establishment of the government of the new county, its business was conducted by the court for Prince George.

     It was not until July 7, 1732 that the vestry for the new parish was selected.  The church wardens were Henry Embry and John Wall.  On July 4, 1733, The Rev. Mr. John Betty (Beatty according to Bishop Meade) was empoloyed to preach every sabbath at "the church already built" and equally at one other place in the parish.  The church already built is believed to have been the predecessor to the present Trinity - St. Lukes at Alberta in Brunswick County.  The services at the other place were at the home of John Thomasson, which was located within the eastern portion of what later became St. James Parish.  In 1733, Cornelius Keith became lay reader there.

     Sepember 14, 1735 the vestry ordered a chapel builtin that vicinity on Butcher's Road, four miles below Allen's Creek, and on November 6, 1735 Richard Bond, William Wynne and Thomas Wilson were appointed a committee to select a building site.  Lewis Deloney agreed to erect the building for 87 pounds, 10 shillings "current money".  The specification called for a building 40 x 20 feet, shingled and weatherboarded with plank with two windows on each side "the same size of windows as church already built".  A window was to be placed in each end, the "chancill" window to be the same size as those on the sides.  There were to be two classes of "pughs", a plpit, a "gallory" and a four foot alley "aisle".  This became known as Roanoke Chapel and later Speed's Chapel.  In 1737, Hugh Daniel succeeded Keith as clerk and in turn was succeeded in 1744 by John Speed, who was also "saxton" the following year.  In 1747, King George was sexton.

     In 1766, Howell Collier conveyed to the wardens the land on which John Chiles had built a church on Dockery Creek near Chile's Plantation.  This was obviously a second building for this congreation.  This was near the present village of Smith's Cross Roads.  At an unascertained date, the church was moved from this location a short distance westward.  At the site of the last mentioned building, there are grave marker bearing the date of 1835.  That building was burned at some time prior to 1839 and a new building was erected at a short distance away which was consecrated by Bishop Meade on November 4, 1839 and called St. Andrews.  So far as is known, this is the first time it was so designated.

     Upon completion of the AStlantic and Danville Railway, shortly before 1890, a station was located about 5 miles distant called Baskerville.  This was in honor of Dr. Robert Dortch Baskerville who, together with his family, had been ardent supporters of the church since early days.  The building which was located near the residence of Dr. Baskerville was then removed to the village of Baskerville.  The lot upon which it was situated was conveyed by John C. Phillips and wife to J. H. Cafford, N. A. Baskerville and J. N. Hutcheson, Trustees of St. Anrews Episcopal Church, on 1 April, 1893.  (Deed Book 52, page 187).

     In 1953, the building at Baskerville was destroyed by fire, and in 1955 the present brick building of St. Andrews Church, located on the site of the previous frame one, was consecrated by Bishop Gunn. 

     Returning to St. Andrews vestry Records, on Nobember 6, 1734, it was ordered that William Toms read one Sabbath Day at John Butcher's and the other at Joseph Colson's. John Butcher resided on the east side of Buther's Creek where it flows into the Roanoke River and Joseph Colson resided a few miles farther westward.  In 1737, James Wood was employed as lay reader holding services "in the fork of Roan Oak" at the home of Robert Humphreys.  In 1745, Daniel Jagger was also holding services as a reader in the fork of Roanoke.  According to tradition but without proof there was a chapel or church building in the area of the fork of Roanoke.

     In 1746, Lunenburg County and Cumberland Parish were carved from Brunswick County and St. Andrews Parish.  At what appears to be the first meeting of the vestry of the new parish, the date of which does not appear, a committee consisting of William Howard and John Boyd was appointed to determine the place for a chapel near the fork of Roanoke.  This is the first record reference I find of a church building in that area.  The church wardens were Clement Read and Lewis Deloney.  On December 7, 1747, a new committee was appointed consisting of Lewis Deloney, Abraham Martin and Daniel Ferth.  In 1748, the Reverend Mr. John Brunskill was received as mminister for one year as a probationer with the right to discontinue his employment reserved by the vestry.  He was directed to preach alternately in one of the four churches then in the county.  They were refered to as the church near Mr. Deloney's (later St. Andrews), the church near Mr. Bacon's, the church near little Roanoke, and the church near the fork.  It would thus appear that between 1747 and 1748, a church was erected near the fork.

     The church in the fork appears to be the prececessor of the present St. James Church in Boydton.  By deed from Benjamin R. Pulliam to John Nelson and Hume R. Feild, dated August 28, 1827, one acre of land was leased for use of the church for a term of 99 years for the yearly rental of one cent.  That building was situated at a place called Cabin Point, between Boydton and Clarksville.  In the Parochial Reports for 1820, it was first refered to as St. James.  The Reverend Mr. John Starke Ravenscroft (later the first Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina) was then Rector of St. James Parish.  There is one marked grave to identify the site which is the only church building appearing in Mecklenburg County on Madison's map of Virginia of 1818. 

(This excellent history as rendered by Mr. Hutcheson is, at this point, supplemented by an excerpt from Susan L. Bracey's book, "Life By The Roaring Roanoke," 1978, page 114.  "The third Episcopal church in the county in 1820 was St. James. It was located "on the left of the road leading from Cabin Point to Clarksville, about midway between Cabin Point and Skipwith's big gate."  Apparently the church had been built by August 1817 when Benjamin R. Pulliam deeded the land to John Nelson and Hume R. Feild.  Both the church and a school were said to have been in a barn like structure.  The church was consecrated in 1818.  In 1835, it was moved and rebuilt four miles to the east, near "Wheatland."  The site of this building is to the south of Rt. 677 (Cox Road) near Rt. 691.  In 1842, with the consecration of the new, third, St. James Chruch in Boydton, that second building was abandoned and in 1849 was sold to the Methodists, becoming St. James Methodist Church.  Subsequently, this church was torn down and used in the construction of a local home.  The site of the first church is apparently marked only by the grave stone of John H. Speed who died in 1818.) 

     Before 1836, this church was moved eastward to a point about 5 miles northwest of Boydton where a frame building was erected on a portion of the Wheatland Plantation, then the home of the Nelson family and later of William O. Goode.  See deed Thomas M. Nelson to Willaim O. Goode October 5, 1836 reserving one acre upon which St. James is situated.  (Deed Book 27, page 9).  St. James continued there until about 1840.

     By deed dated October 29, 1842, Beverly Sydnor and wife conveyed to James Cunningham, Mark Alexander, Henry E. Coleman, Jr., James W. Oliver, James Hayes, John Nelson, Grief Green and William T. Z. Finch, Trustees of St. James, the parcel of land located in the town of Boydton upon which a brick church building had been erected.  (Deed Book 30 page 53).  This building was consecrated by Bishop (Meade?) on November 5, 1842, with Francis H. McGuire serving as rector.  (From the surmise that Bishop Meade consecrated the church to the end of this paragraph is taken from the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, available at https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/173-5001_Boydton_HD_2002_Final_Nomination.pdf.)  "When Bishop Whittle visited in 1876, he insisted that a vestry room should be added
toward the back of the single long room as he was forced to put on his robes in the presence ofthe congregation. Along with its addition, the church closed off the two front doors, and added alarge central set of double doors, which opened into a vestibule, which in turn cut off the lengthof the gallery. From the vestibule, two doors swung into the aisles. The contractor built a squarerecess chancel into the rear along with the vestry room on the east side of the structure. On SaintJames Day, July 25, 1909, the congregation installed and dedicated a pipe organ."

     Turning to St. Johns Church at Chase City, we find that in 1749 the Vestry (of Cumberland Parish) directed Mr. Cox, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Martin and Mr. Ellidge to negotiate for a church near the Court House of the county to be 40 x 24 feet.  Mackness Goode and Julius Nichols were to assist in the search of a convenient spring for the church.  Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Martin and Mr. Smith also were ordered to negotiate to build a church near the fork 40 x 24 feet.  (This last would appear to be probably the predecessor of St. James.  However, the reference is confusing.)

     The Court House of the County was then about a mile west of the present town of Chase City.  William Hunt was the first clerk.  Presumabley, this church was erected.  However, the first deed pertaining to this church is dated August 11, 1766, conveying land upon which a church was located.  David Christopher to Parish of St. James (Deed Book 1, page 259).

     In the meantime, in 1764, Mecklenburg County had been carved from Lunenburg and constituted that portion of Lunenburg comprising St. James Parish, established in 1761.  Lunenburg Court House was then moved and Mecklenburg Court House was established at Boydton. St. Johns Church was moved to the location within the present limits of the town of Chase City and subsequently moved to its present site. 

     I do not have the date of this first move, but by deed dated September 29, 1887, S. N. Walker and wife conveyed to Dr. J. W. Oliver and R. C. Nelson, Trustees of St. Johns Episcopal Church at Chase City, the lot upon which the church now stands.  (Deed Book 47, page 487.  Also Deed Book 65, page 121).  According to manuscript of Rev. Franl Stringfellow dated March 15, 1906, prepared while he was rector of the Parish, the present building occupied by St. Johns Church consists in part of the timbers from old Lunenburg Court House.  It is probably reasonable to infer that the Christopher deed of 1766 resulted from the removal of the church from near the court house which had been abandoned when the new court house was located at Boydton in 1765, to a location nearer the trading center which became Chase City.  In the proceedings of the conventions and the councils, this church has been refered to as Old Church.

     By deed of September 20, 1845, Charles Sturdivant and wife conveyed to James Cunningham, John Nelson, Henry E. Coleman, Mark Alexander, Grief Green, Francis W. Venable, James Hayes, Sr., and benjamin D. Cogbill, Trustees, St. James Parish, an acre land on the south side of Roanoke River near the North Carolina line and the acre of land on which the church now stands to be known as St. Lukes.  (Deed Book 31, page 528).)  St. Lukes consecrated by Bishop Johns October 30, 1845.  St. Lukes was abandoned 40 years ago and the building no longer stands.  (per time of writing this would be 1925).

     By deed of December 6, 1848, Tucker Carrington and wife conveyed to Francis W. Venable, Robert C. Nelson, Silas H. Harris, Charles Sturdivant, Edward Tarry, John A. Burwell, George Tarry, Jr., George Tarry, Sr., and Samuel Tarry, they being membersw elect of the Vestry of the Episcopal Church proposed to be built in the town of Clarksville, a lot on Virginia Street for the erection of an Episcopal Church.  In report to council 1850, it was stated that a church had been erected in Clarksville and was ready for consecration.

     This building was destroyed by fire prior to 1900.  During the time that the Rt. Rev. Beverly D. Tucker, Jr., was rector of the St. James Parish, the present St. Timothy's Church in Clarksville was erected on a lot conveyed by S. M. Wood and husband to F. A. Warren and Austin L. Skipwith, Trustees of the Clarksville Episcopal Church, deed ddated January 17, 1911.  (Deed Book 73, page 403).

     Christ Chapel, Boydton, was originally located on the Old County Poor Farm approximately a mile eastwarde from its present location.  I do not know the date of its origin.  It was organized as a chapel under the supervision of St. James Church, Boydton.  The county farm was moved sometime during the mid 1800s.  During the rectorship of the Rev. P. M. Boyden, the church building was moved to its present location.  There were two conveyances of 1/2 acre each ddated September 3, 1896 and September 4, 1896.  (Deed Book 54, pages 538 and 539.) Subsequently, the control of Christ Chapel passed from the Vestry of St. James to a Vestry elected by Christ Chapel. 

     The land upon which Grace Episcopal Church at Palmer Springs is located was acquired by deed dated October 3, 1881 from S. P. Read and wife conveying to Rev. B. T. Turner, B. W. Leigh and George R. Tarry, Trustees, one acre, described as being the land on which Pennel Church formerly stood.  (Without being able to document it, I have been informed that this was formerly a presbyterian Church.  The membership was gradually reduced to two, Mrs. Susan Jiggets of Tall Grove and her grandson, David E. J. Baskerville, when the property was acquired by the Episcopal Church.

     All Saints Church at South Hill acquired title to the lot upon which it located by deed dated March 7, 1925 from R. E. Yancey and wife to J. E. Butts, F. L. Nanny, A. G. Watson, R. H. Crews and E. J. Peoples, Trustees of All Saints Episcopal Church.  (Deed Book 92, page 204.)

     Your attention is invited to the fact that in 1846 St. Lukes Parish was carved from St. James Parish.  St. Lukes contained St. Johns in Chase City, St. Lukes south of the Roanoke River and St. Timothy's at Clarksville.  The Rev. Francis H. McGuire, who was rector of St. James Parish when the present St. James Church was removed to Boydton, became rector of St. Lukes Parish.  As early as 1909, to my own knowledge, these churches were again served by the rector of St. James Parish. 

     At some time prior to 1900, St. Marks Parish in the eastern edge of the county was carved from St. James Parish.  St. Marks consisted of St. Marks at Bracey and Ascension Church near Palmer Springs, both consisting of colored congregations.  As a matter of interest, deed to the land upon which Ascension is situated dated March 2, 1890, was executed by the Rev. Solomon Russell and wife.  Rev. Mr. Russell was long a moving spirit in St. Paul's College.  He was a native of Mecklenburg County.  (Deed Book 56, page 168.) 

     I have not undertaken to note all the deeds conveying church property within the county.  There are a considerable number of others conveying land to various colored congregations and for rectory and other uses.  I have a list of these deeds which are easily obtained in the County Clerk's Office.

     Charles J. Faulkner, Jr., Esquuire, of Chase City, Virginia, has recently copied a sketch of St. James Church prepared by his father the late Charles J. Faulkner (in 1911) who for many years was Lay Reader and Superintenedent of the Sunday School of St. James and untiring in his church activities.  Mr. Faulkner indicated his purpose to send you a copy of this article.  If you have not received it, I suggest you make inquiry to him.

     From a deed recorded in Deed Book 11, page 374, the following information appears.  After the formation of St. James Parish in 1761, Edmund Taylor, John Potter, Thomas Anderson, Richard Swepson and Thomas Moore were appointed by order of the vestry of St. James Parish of the County of Lunenburg to purchase a glebe.  They purchased from Thomas Lanier a tract of land containing by estimation 400 acres which was conveyed by Thomas Lanier and wife by deed dated April 12, 1762 to the Vestrymen of St. James Parish who were: Edmund Taylor, John Potter, William Hunt, John Speed, Thomas Anderson, Sasmuel Hopkins, John Camp, Joseph Freeman, Richard Swepson, Thomas Moore, George Baskerville, and Thomas Carlton.  

     Following the enactment of the statute passed by the General Assembly January 12, 1822, entitle an Act Concerning Glebe Lands and Chruches Within the Commonwealth, the Overseers of the Poor for Mecklenburg County consisting of James Standley, William Taylor, Jr., Samuel Tarry, David Holmes, Robert Williamson, Ellyson Crew, Edmund Feild, and T. Normant, offered the glebe land for sale at public auction when it was purchased by Howell Taylor at the price of $1500.00.  (Deed dated  April 16, 1803.)  The Overseers of the Poor named conveyed the Glebe Land "including every other species of property incident....."