Page 53 - WPA Book
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Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
The Episcopal Church in Rockingham County.
2. LOCATION:
East side of South Main Street, at the corner of Bruce Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
Church built 1868.
4. OWNERS:
A.B. Irick
Trustees of Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church from Estate of A.B. Irick, Deed Book 17, page 600.
Recorded December 24, 1879.
5. DESCRIPTION:
Built of brick; Gothic style, rectangular plan, fronting on Main Street; entrance in tower; cathedral windows in
front and sides.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Episcopal Church in Augusta County.
Augusta County was established in 1745. The first term of the court was principally concerned with the routine
of organization and the swearing in of officers.
The following year the organization of the court, the first Vestrymen of Augusta Parish, were elected and
representatives chosen for the House of Burgesses.
The Vestrymen elected were: Col. James Patton, Col. John Buchanan, John Madison, John Christian, Patrick
Hayes, (Mr.) John Buchanan, Robert Alexander, Thomas Gordon, James Lockhart, John Archer, John Mathews
and John Smith.
The first four named were members of the court. The first Vestry meeting was held at the courthouse, April 6,
1747, and John Madison was elected Clerk. John Madison was a brother-in-law of Thomas Lewis and Gabriel
Jones, and a cousin of Col. James Madison of Orange, father of the later President. His son became the
distinguished Rev. James Madison, D.D., the first bishop of the Episcopal Church of Virginia.
Vacancies on the Vestry were filled by the board. The minister of the Established Church was “ex-officio”
president of the board. Two members were annually appointed to the “processioning” of lands. The minister
was paid a fixed salary and given a farm, or glebe, and a parsonage for his use. Prior to 1784, only ministers
authorized by the Established Church were permitted to perform the marriage ceremony. The register of
marriages was kept by the Vestry.
The first churches organized in Augusta County were those of Tinkling Spring and Old Stone Church at Fort
Defiance. These were originally one congregation and in 1739 presented a call to Rev. John Thompson of the
Presbytery of Donegal.
In regard to the first church in what is now Rockingham, the old Peaked Mountain Presbyterian Church is the
oldest of all the congregations. Rev. John Hindman preached there in 1742, and the congregation was organized
in 1745. In 1747, he changed his church affiliations and became a Church of England minister, and in that year
two chapels of the Established Church were built in present day Rockingham County – one on the plantation of
Daniel Harrison near the present town of Dayton, and the other one at Cross Keys, about 200 yards east of the
old Peaked Mountain Church.
Page 52 of 482
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
The Episcopal Church in Rockingham County.
2. LOCATION:
East side of South Main Street, at the corner of Bruce Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
Church built 1868.
4. OWNERS:
A.B. Irick
Trustees of Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church from Estate of A.B. Irick, Deed Book 17, page 600.
Recorded December 24, 1879.
5. DESCRIPTION:
Built of brick; Gothic style, rectangular plan, fronting on Main Street; entrance in tower; cathedral windows in
front and sides.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Episcopal Church in Augusta County.
Augusta County was established in 1745. The first term of the court was principally concerned with the routine
of organization and the swearing in of officers.
The following year the organization of the court, the first Vestrymen of Augusta Parish, were elected and
representatives chosen for the House of Burgesses.
The Vestrymen elected were: Col. James Patton, Col. John Buchanan, John Madison, John Christian, Patrick
Hayes, (Mr.) John Buchanan, Robert Alexander, Thomas Gordon, James Lockhart, John Archer, John Mathews
and John Smith.
The first four named were members of the court. The first Vestry meeting was held at the courthouse, April 6,
1747, and John Madison was elected Clerk. John Madison was a brother-in-law of Thomas Lewis and Gabriel
Jones, and a cousin of Col. James Madison of Orange, father of the later President. His son became the
distinguished Rev. James Madison, D.D., the first bishop of the Episcopal Church of Virginia.
Vacancies on the Vestry were filled by the board. The minister of the Established Church was “ex-officio”
president of the board. Two members were annually appointed to the “processioning” of lands. The minister
was paid a fixed salary and given a farm, or glebe, and a parsonage for his use. Prior to 1784, only ministers
authorized by the Established Church were permitted to perform the marriage ceremony. The register of
marriages was kept by the Vestry.
The first churches organized in Augusta County were those of Tinkling Spring and Old Stone Church at Fort
Defiance. These were originally one congregation and in 1739 presented a call to Rev. John Thompson of the
Presbytery of Donegal.
In regard to the first church in what is now Rockingham, the old Peaked Mountain Presbyterian Church is the
oldest of all the congregations. Rev. John Hindman preached there in 1742, and the congregation was organized
in 1745. In 1747, he changed his church affiliations and became a Church of England minister, and in that year
two chapels of the Established Church were built in present day Rockingham County – one on the plantation of
Daniel Harrison near the present town of Dayton, and the other one at Cross Keys, about 200 yards east of the
old Peaked Mountain Church.
Page 52 of 482
