The old building is unique in its architectural construction in many ways and is hard to describe by writing.

It is two story, double height in one story, with galleries formerly all around, but now only in the front entrance of the building.

The old spiral stairway and pulpit have been changed to a small, plain pulpit, three or four steps above the floor. A small, narrow, open stairway to the right of the entrance leads to a gallery across the front end of the church.

The benches are plain, straight backed, pine, painted.

The furnishings are very simple, with one or two old fashioned hanging lamps.

See form 3686 attached.

Mr. J.W. Boreden, eighty years old, was sexton of this early church for twelve years; and he gave me much information as to the ways, customs, etc., of this early church, and its preachers. He has an early communion cup, pint size, used in their religious services. There were two sizes, one pint and one and one-half pint, communion cups.

EARLY CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS….

This church agreement made between the Reformed and German Lutheran congregations at Peaked Mountain (now Massanutten) in Rockingham County, October 31^st, 1769.

THE CHURCH AGREEMENT:

In the name of the divine god and with the consent of the whole congregation we have commenced to build a new house of God, and it is by the help of God so far finished that the world may see it.

We have established it as a union church in the use of which the Lutherans and their descendants, as well as the Reforms and their descendants shall have equal share.

But since it is necessary to keep in repair the church and schoolhouse and to support the minister and school-master therefore we have drawn up this writing that each member sign his name to same and thereby certify that he will support the minister and school-master, and help to keep in repair the church and schoolhouse as far as lies in his ability.

Should, however, one or another withdrawn from such Christian work--which we would not suppose a

Christian would do—we have unitedly concluded that such a one shall not be looked upon as a member of our congregation, but he shall pay for the baptism of a child 2s., 6d., which shall go into the Treasury of the Church, for the confirmation of the child 5s., which shall be paid to the minister as a fee; and further, should such a one come to the table of the Lord and partake of the Holy Communion, he shall pay 5s., which shall

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go into the Treasury of the Church; and finally if such a one desired burial in our grave year, he shall pay 5s., which shall also be paid into the Treasury of the Church.

The above document was drawn up and signed in Augusta County—later Rockingham—at the Peaked Mountain and Stony Creek Churches on Oct. 31st, 1769.

A few of the birth and death records to the Peaked mountain Church date back as far as 1750 A.D. which was before the regular organization of the Peaked Mountain Churches.

Informants: Messrs. J.W. Boreden and Bocock S. Hawkins.

Court Records of Rockingham County, at Harrisonburg, VA