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1. SUBJECT:

2. LOCATION:

In Rockingham County, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Corner of East Market and Federal Streets.

3. DATE:

1817-1820.

4. OWNERS:

The land on which this church was built came from John Graham a Grant of 1780, which was a portion of his daughter’s Harriet Graham. It was kept in the hands of the Presbyterian Church, up until 1897, when they built a new Church on the Northeast side of the public square.

In 1897, Wm. D. Bucher purchased the site of the Presbyterians and it was in his hands up until his death in 1912 and his daughter Ernestine Bucher received this portion of his estate. At her death in 1932 she gave it to the Masonic Order which owns it now.

5. DESCRIPTION:

The Church was built in 1817. It was rebuilt of stone in 1820 when an addition of brick was built. They both still stand and are used as business sites.

6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The principal entrance was on the last ten feet on the west.? There was also a door on the east and south ends. There were four pews in each corner of the building each pew having another pew a foot or two below it.

Mr. Carr’s pew was in the northwest corner and Sam Henry had the pew under his.

Mr. Scott had the southwest corner. The southeast corner was Dr. Waterman’s with Robert Grey’s pew below his. The northeast was Mr. Jerry Kyle’s.

The pulpit was very high and on the north side of the Church. Under it a little distance from the floor was an enclosure of perhaps six or seven feet where the Elders sat. In front of the pulpit stood a man who let the singing, giving out two lines of the Hymn at a time, the congregation joining in the singing. The resto of the seats were on the level with the floor.

The high pews were entered by doors. Two steps leading up the high pews and one step to the low pews.

The Communion was administered twice a year. Long high _______ covered with clean white linen were placed in the aisles in front of the pulpit. On either side ere placed low benches for communicants to sit on. Every communicant brought a piece of copper called a token and when they were seated ______table, laid it before them. The Elders came around and _____them all up. Then a solemn Hymn was sung Beginning, "on_____dark and doleful night". The Elders after the singing, _________around the bread and wine. It was certainly a very soleful ceremony.

The first Pastor, was a Mr. Irving. The next a Mr. David____________. The next Pastor was a Mr. Baker and after him came Mr. ______Smith. Mr. Henderson was Pastor at one time.

The New Erection church was united with this Church. Mr. Speece was a celebrated preacher of that day, he pre______at the old Stone Church ten miles north of Staunton, Virginia. Harrisonburg’s first preaching

Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg

Page 2

by Presbyterians is said _______been about 1780. The Congregation was organized in 1789. _____ The first church was built in 1817. Present Church erected on the east side of Public Square) in 1907-8.

7. ART:

Photograph

7. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: